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The effect of washing on the thickness of the stratum corneum in normal and atopic individuals
Author(s) -
WHITE M.I.,
JENKINSON D. MCEWAN,
LLOYD D.H.
Publication year - 1987
Publication title -
british journal of dermatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.304
H-Index - 179
eISSN - 1365-2133
pISSN - 0007-0963
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2133.1987.tb05873.x
Subject(s) - stratum corneum , epidermis (zoology) , stratum , corneocyte , atopic dermatitis , intracellular , chemistry , biophysics , dermatology , biology , anatomy , biochemistry , medicine , pathology , paleontology
SUMMARY The thickness of, and number of cell layers in, the stratum corneum and the living epidermis were determined on frozen sections of washed and unwashed skin from normal and atopic individuals of both sexes. The stratum corneum of aropic patients was thinner and had fewer layers of dead cells and intercellular lipid than normal, although the living epidermis was thicker. Regular washing with soap and water had no appreciable effect on the dimensions of the living epidermis of either group but caused a reduction in the number of cell layers and the amount of sudanophilic material in the stratum corneum of both. In atopic patients little surface lipid remained, suggesting that washing with soap and water may be detrimental to the barrier function of the stratum corneum in such patients.