BLOOD FLOW IN FACIAL SKIN 507 B1 B2 B3 S2 B4. .... ß Figure 6. Replica photos. A replica of a subject with a high cheek blood flow and a low three-dimensional morphological parameter sWa (B l-B4) and a replica of a subject with a low cheek blood flow and a high sWa (S1-S4) (as numbered in Figure 5). DISCUSSION In this study, we examined the relationship between the blood flow and the morpho- logical structure of the skin. In the forehead, no correlation was noted between the parameters of the blood flow and those of the surface morphology. In the cheek, however, a significant negative correlation was observed between the blood flow parameters and the parameters of the surface morphology. There was little or no correlation between the blood flow parameters and age in the forehead, or between the surface morphology

508 JOURNAL OF COSMETIC SCIENCE Table V Correlation Coefficients Between Parameters of Blood Flow in the Cheek and Surface Parameters at Several Sites of Facial Skin Around the Cheek Correlation coefficient# Site Parameters Fr•t F•nt•r_ L Frei n Fm• x Fpost_ L Corner of mouth sWa -0.382* -0.335* -0.237 -0.369* -0.322* sWp -0.279 -0.224 -0.130 -0.241 -0.195 sWt -0.290 -0.251 -0.158 -0.298 -0.241 sWq -0.363* -0.315' 0.214 -0.394* -0.398* Nasolabial groove sWa -0.045 -0.100 -0.089 -0.071 -0.032 sWp -0.110 -0.158 -0.173 -0.145 -0.118 sWt -0.084 -0.110 -0.100 -0.089 -0.055 sWq -0.055 -0.100 -0.095 -0.077 -0.045 Lower eyelid sWa 0.000 -0.032 -0.045 0.032 0.000 sWp -0.032 -0.063 -0.055 0.000 0.000 sWt -0.055 -0.095 -0.095 0.000 -0.032 sWq 0.000 -0.032 -0.055 0.032 0.000 Corner of eye sWa -0.063 -0.095 -0.095 0.032 -0.045 sWp -0.264 -0.253 -0.176 -0.212 -0.228 sWt -0.130 -0.126 -0.110 -0.032 -0.077 sWq -0.071 -0.100 -0.095 0.000 -0.045 All numbers in the groups are 40. # Calculated from the linear regression line. *p 0.05. y = 110.03 * 10^(4.1485e-3x) 200 r=- -0.394 150 ß ß • 50 o• 0 20 40 60 80 100 120 Blood flow parameterFm•, Figure 7. Relationship between sWq at the corner ofthe mouth and the blood flow parameter FE• in the cheek. parameters and age. In the cheek, surface morphology parameters were correlated with age, but the blood flow parameters were not. Therefore, a correlation between blood flow parameters and surface morphology parameters mediated by age can be excluded, and age can be disregarded as a factor in the correlation between blood flow parameters and morphological parameters observed in the cheek. In the cheek skin, the correlation coefficients ranged in the order of sWp sWt sWa sWq among surface morphology parameters when the blood flow parameter Fmi n was excluded. Since sWp and sWt are parameters that primarily reflect local changes, and since sWa is a parameter of overall changes, local irregularities on the surface of the skin