The Mole: A New Wrinkle in Bone Health

The eyes may be windows to the soul but those darn wrinkles may be a window to the bones. In one of the more interesting studies presented at the annual meeting of The Endocrine Society, Dr. Lubna Pal revealed evidence of an association between bone density and skin wrinkling.

"In postmenopausal women, the appearance of the skin may offer a glimpse at the skeletal well-being, a relationship not previously described,” she said in a press statement. "This information may allow the possibility of identifying postmenopausal women at fracture risk at a glance, without dependence on costly tests."

^{Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons user Szakalová Edina}

Dr. Lubna and her coinvestigators gave 114 postmenopausal women a score for face and neck wrinkles (based on the number of sites and depth). They also attempted to measure skin rigidity, using a durometer. BMD was measured with DEXA.

They found a significant association between wrinkle severity and bone density; more severe wrinkling was associated with lower bone density.

It is not as far-fetched as it may sound. After all, skin and bone share some common building blocks - collagen. Changes in collagen with age may affect both skin and bone.

However, all bets are off for women who cannot refrain from botox, fillers, peels, and plastic surgery.

—Kerri Wachter

The Mole: A New Wrinkle in Bone Health

Recommended Reading