Documentation of normal stratum corneum scaling in an average population: features of differences among age, ethnicity and body site.
BACKGROUND
Scaling skin involves an imbalance between cell proliferation and desquamation, resulting in partially detached corneocytes at the stratum corneum (SC) surface that become visible as they scatter light.


OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to document scaling skin with no associated pathology, to estimate the range of normal corneocyte detachment in the average population, and to determine if age, pigmentation and/or body sites of different exposures contribute to differences observed in the SC.


METHODS
Healthy African-American and Caucasian female subjects (n = 151) from a typical central New Jersey population, aged between 14 and 75 years, were evaluated on the dorsal forearm and upper inner arm. Dermatoscopy and adhesive tape were used to evaluate the appearance and adhesion of surface corneocytes. Transepidermal water loss and conductivity were measured to assess water-handling properties of the SC. Measurements were conducted during the winter.


RESULTS
Corneocyte detachment observed with dermatoscopy became more prevalent with age and was more severe on the dorsal forearm and in Caucasian subjects. The distribution of the amount of corneocyte removal with adhesive tape increased with age. The range of values was larger in the dorsal forearm than the upper inner arm and was greater in Caucasian subjects than African-American subjects. Minimal changes were observed for water-handling properties.


CONCLUSIONS
The architecture of the outer SC appears different between ages, body sites of different exposures, and individuals of different pigmentation groups, but minimal differences in water-handling properties are observed.
Johnson & Johnson Consumer and Personal Products Worldwide, Skillman, NJ 08558, USA. mchu2@its.jnj.com
M
M
Chu
N
N
Kollias
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001132:Arm; D046169:Dermoscopy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D012867:Skin / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D012869:Skin Absorption / Q000502:physiology; D015595:Skin Aging / Q000502:physiology; D012879:Skin Physiological Phenomena; D012880:Skin Pigmentation / Q000502:physiology; D014870:Water Loss, Insensible / Q000502:physiology; D044465:White People; D055815:Young Adult