THE CHEMISTRY OF THE AGING SKIN 381 The ground substance apparently becomes less permeable in old age, as evidenced by its cloudy and opaque appearance. The spreading reaction is decreased in old animals (12). Again the chemical basis of these changes is unknown. The paucity of chemical information about the components of aging skin leads to two conclusions: 1. In view of the unexplored chemical characteristics of the aging skin, there is no rational dermatological therapy or cosmetic device for the "re- juvenation" of aging skin. At best, all recommended local treatments (hormones, vitamins, etc.) are based on alleged morphological changes and "improvements" which have been subjectively evaluated. In the author's opinion, the only acceptable cosmetic measure for the treatment of old skin is the replacement of the fatty cover of the skin surface by frequent lubrication with ointments or lotions. The fatty cover helps in retaining the moisture in the horny layer and prevents the chapping and drying of the skin surface. 2. There is a great need for further chemical analyses of the components of the aging skin. It is indispensable to have objective data on the cutane- ous changes of the aging process. In the absence of such data, we cannot devise adequate cosmetic measures for "resuscitating" old skin. SUMMARY' In senile skin the following chemical changes have been described: 1. Dryness of the horny layer with possible changes in the process of keratinization. 2. An increased calcium, magnesium and ash content of whole skin. 3. Profound alterations in the collagenous and elastic fibers and in the ground substance of the corium. The exact chemical nature of these changes is unknown. It is emphasized that there is a great need for further chemical studies in this field in order to develop rational cosmetic measures for the treatment of aging skin. REFERENCES (1) Rothman, S., "Physiology and Biochemistry of the Skin," Chicago, University of Chi- cago Press (1954), p. 380. (2) Lewis, B. L., and Montgomery, H., "The Senile Nail," 7. Investigative DermatoL, 24, 11 (1955). (3) Tadokoro, T., and Ugami, H., "On the Cystine and Cysteine Contents of Human Hair," 7. Biochem., 12, 187 (1930). (4) Brown, H., "The Mineral Content of Human Skin," •e. Biol. Chem., 75, 789 (1927). (5) Biirger, M., "Haut- und Stoffwechsel," alrch. Dermatol. u. Syphilis, 191, 71 (1950). (6) Meyer, A., "Vergleichende Gesamtsterin- und Sterinesterbestimmungen der Haut des wachsenden und erwachsenen Organismus," Z. Kinderheilk., 50, 596 (1931). (7) Brown, H., "The Mineral Content of Human, Dog and Rabbit Skin," 7. Biol. Chem., 68, 729 (1926). (8) Herrmann, F., "Erweiterung des Verfahrens der Schnittveraschung. Differenzierung der anorganischen Struktur gesunder und kranker Haut," Z. wiss. Mikroskop., 52, 257 (1935).

JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY OF COSMETIC CHEMISTS 382 (9) Suntzeff, V., and Carruthers, C., "The Mineral Composition of Human Epidermis," 7. Biol. Chem., 160, 567 (1945). (10) Cowdry, E. V., Carruthers, C., and Suntzeff, V., "Influence of Age on the Copper and Zinc Content in the Epidermis of Mice Undergoing Carcinogenesis with Methylcholan- threne and a Note on the Role of Calcium," 7. Nat. CancerInst., 8, 209 (1948). (11) McCardle, R. C., Engman, M. F., Jr., and Engman, M. F., Sr., "Mineral Changes in Neurodermatitis, Revealed by Microincineration," drch. Dermatol. $yphiloL, 47, 335 (1943). (12) Ma, C. K., and Cowdry, E. V., "Aging of Elastic Tissue in Human Skin," •7. Gerontol., 5, 203 (1950). (13) B/irger, M., and Schlomka, G., "Beitr/ige zur physiologischen Chemie des Alterns der Gewebe. IV. Untersuchungen an der menschlichen Haut," Z. exp. Med., 615, 105 (1928). (14) Nathan, E., and Stern, F., "Ueber den Mineralgehalt der Haut unter normalen und pathologischen Verh//ltnissen," Dermatol. Z., 515, 451 (1928). (15) Urbach, E., "Beitr/ige zu einer physiologischen und pathologischen Chemie der Haut. II. Mitteilung. Der Wasset-, Kochsalz-, Reststickstoff- und Fettgehalt der Haut in der Norm und unter pathologischen Verh/iltnissen," drch. Dermatol. u. Syphilis, 156, 73 (1928). (16) Tunbridge, R. E., Tattersall, R. N., Hall, D. A., Astbury, W. T., and Reed, R., "The Fibrous Structure of Normal and Abnormal Human Skin," Clin. Sci., 11, 315 (1952). (17) Weidman, F. D., "The Pathology of the Yellowing Dermatoses. I. Non-xanthomatous Jaundice, Carotinemia, Blood Pigmentation, Melanin, Colloid Degeneration and Elastic Degeneration," drch. Dermatol. Syphilol., 24, 954 (1931). (18) Montgomery, P. O., "A Characterization of Basophilic Degeneration of Collagen by Histochemical and Microspectroscopic Procedures," •7. Investigative Dermatol., 24, 107 (1955). (19) Dick, J. C., "Observation on the Elastic Tissue of the Skin with a Note on the Reticular Layer at the Junction of the Dermis and Epidermis," 7- Anat., 8i, 201 (1947). (20) Herrmann, F., "Ueber die Wasserbindung in der Haut," Z. ges. exp. Med., 76, 780 (1931). SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC ASPECTS OF SKIN GERIATRICS* By EI)WARD H•.NI)•.RSO•, M.D. Schering Corporation, Bloomfield, N. 2 •. FoR SOMe YEARS past it has been evident that the control of many diseases of youth has been leading progressively to a greater population in what is termed the older age group. It is true that a great many more people reach the age of sixty today than ever before at this point our progress has all but come to a standstill. Life insurance statistics show that the life expectancy for a man of sixty is but a trifle greater now than it was 100 years ago. In these circumstances there can be found both a problem and an extraordinary opportunity. The problem is the greater prevalence of ills peculiar to older people. The op- portunity is that of prolonging useful life far beyond the Biblical prediction of "three score and ten years." The management of specific diseases affect- ing the aged has long been under study within the several provinces of in- * Presented at the May 13, 1955, Meeting, New York City.