A Study on Normal Skin Temperature Distribution and Changes at Leg and Foot in controlled condition

초록

Objective: The skin temperature changes continuously to adapt to the external environment and to maintain homeostasis. We aimed to evaluate the reproducibility of skin temperature measurement and side-to-side difference in semi-controlled environment. Method: Skin temperatures were measured in 32 healthy volunteers (12 females, mean age 28.5±15.9, 10 to 80 yrs) with infrared medical thermometer (DermaTemp 1001, USA, Exergen Inc.). Subjects were clothed in examination gown and exposed to an ambient temperature of 24-26℃ for more than 20 minutes in supine position. The measurements were obtained from 26 sites on both lower extremities in supine position at 10 minutes intervals for 30 minutes. Results: Skin temperature of lateral middle leg site was 34.21±0.45℃, medial middle leg site was 33.45±0.75℃, lateral plantar site was 31.98±2.13℃, medial plantar site was 32.30 ± 2.49℃, great toe site was 32.88±2.97℃, fifth toe site was 30.94±3.12℃. After acclimatization in supine position, the sequential changes of skin temperatures at 10, 20, 30 minutes and the side-to-side differences were not significant (p＜0.01). Minimal side-to-side difference site was second toe lesion (mean difference 0.001±0.014℃), otherwise maximal difference site was lateral upper leg lesion (mean difference was 0.366±0.186℃). Conclusion: Intra-person sequential difference was minimal but inter-personal differences were more significant at distal sites. The measurement with portable infrared thermometer on the skin temperature would be a useful method for evaluation on the peripheral and central autonomic nervous system function in acclimatized condition.