Light microscopic and transmission electron microscopic investigations of the stratum corneum of xerosis vulgaris of the leg.
Histopathological findings from eight cases of xerosis vulgaris of the leg (XVL) were compared to those from nine normal controls using light microscopy and one micron epoxy resin-embedded sections stained with toluidine blue and basic fuchsin (T-F) and electron microscopy with ultra-thin sections. Three sub-layers were identified in the stratum corneum of all cases of XVL and normal controls by differences in color in T-F stained specimens and by differences in density in electron microscopic findings. Electron microscopically, the intermediate sub-layer within the three-layered structure showed an uneven density with many empty spaces in both normal controls and cases of XVL. Statistically, only the intermediate sub-layers of XVL increased significantly in number (p less than 0.05) as well as in thickness (p less than 0.001), compared to normal controls. These findings suggest that the intermediate sub-layers play an important role in holding water in the skin.
Hori
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Kligman
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D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007057:Ichthyosis / Q000473:pathology*; D007868:Leg Dermatoses / Q000473:pathology*; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D012867:Skin / Q000473:pathology* / Q000648:ultrastructure