title: The Azerbaijani scrub: a simple method to harvest large amounts of stratum corneum.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The study of skin barrier constituents may require collection of much stratum corneum. Existing methods are inadequate and/or difficult.
  
  
  METHODS
  A simple and safe method to harvest stratum corneum from glabrous human skin derives from the bathing practices of people in Azerbaijan. The method requires water immersion of the subject for 30 min immediately followed by vigorous scrubbing of skin with a moist rough crepe mitten.
  
  
  RESULTS
  This scrubbing method causes the separation of large amounts of stratum corneum which is easily harvested.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The method facilitates study of stratum corneum components, including intercellular lipids.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University of California at San Francisco, School of Medicine, San Francisco, CA 94609, USA. dplaslin@itsa.ucsf.edu
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Paslin
authors.forename: Esther
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Krug
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001382:Azerbaijan; D001494:Baths / Q000295:instrumentation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007101:Immersion; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012867:Skin / Q000473:pathology*