Sorption Properties of the Human Stratum Corneum

Abstract

Water sorption is important for the overall structure and function of keratinized tissues such as the human epidermal stratum corneum (SC). In this study we report on a gravimetric method for studying sorption properties of human SC, both from heel and female breast skin. Changes in mass were measured as the relative humidity was altered in steps under controlled environmental conditions. The possibility of hysteresis is also discussed. Furthermore, we have found that the sorption time constants show triphasic behaviour during absorption, but not during desorption. This behaviour is connected to the 3 different types of water present in the SC. Water also enters the SC much more rapidly compared to its exit at relative humidities <50%. Finally, the amount of time between sample preparation and onset of measurement seems to have an effect on the absorption rate, but less on the total amount of water absorbed.

Keratin-water-NMF interaction as a three layer model in the human stratum corneum using in vivo confocal Raman microscopy

“…However, this can be different in the diseased skin 6 . The SC has been recognised as the skin barrier, which prevents exogenous substances from penetrating into the skin and also for water evaporation out of the body 7 – 9 . The barrier function of the SC is primarily maintained by the lateral packing order of intercellular lipids (ICL) 10 , which is distributed non-homogeneously in the SC 11 , 12 and can vary age-dependently 13 .…”

Positive impact of dietary water on in vivo epidermal water physiology

“…Within the epidermis, however, a much smaller quantity (20–60% by weight) is present, maintained in a delicate homeostasis with the surrounding (external and internal) environment. Additionally, many clinical manifestations from discomfort to cracking are known to be related to local water balance alterations . An eventual relationship between dietary water supply and cutaneous health (also aesthetic conservation) has been suggested, although it has not been sufficiently demonstrated .…”

Current Status of Healthy Human Skin Models: Can Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors Potentially Improve the Present Replacement Models?

“…For detailed information on the development of skin epithelium, regulation of keratinocyte differentiation and skin morphology in general we refer to existing articles and reviews [3,55,56,57,58,59,60,61,62,63,64,65,66,67,68,69,70,71]. …”