AcEiNG OF Elastic Tissue 101 



arterial elastic tissue; the data are largely histocliemical. As 

 a matter of fact there is some question in my mind as to 

 whether or not the elastic tissue changes in senile elastosis 

 should be referred to as an age change. In so far as can be 

 determined senile elastosis occurs only in the dermis of skin 

 that is chronically exposed to the elements, such as face, 



back of the neck, and hands; it does not occur in skin that 

 is normally covered by clothing. It would seem that this 

 elastic tissue lesion is a product of external stresses operating 

 for long periods of time. 



In senile elastosis the normal bed of delicate elastic fibres 

 in the pars papillaris of the dermis is replaced by a coarse 

 mat of fibres 3-5 times thicker in diameter than normal. In 

 severe lesions this mat may extend proximally to include 

 the pars reticularis. These elastic fibres have several properties 



