title: Stratum corneum evaluation methods: overview.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The stratum corneum serves as a main barrier for the skin, minimizing water loss and regulating absorption of substances. Because of its surface location, it is readily available for analysis. Consequently, many techniques are amenable to investigating its content and function. Here, we review the methods employed to evaluate the stratum corneum and its function.
  
  
  METHODS
  We reviewed Pubmed and Embase search results for 'stratum corneum, 'method,' methods,' 'technique,' and 'evaluation' and extracted pertinent articles that discussed ways to examine the stratum corneum and its constituents.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Traditional and novel methods vary by accuracy, ease of use, time requirements, cost, invasiveness, and equipment requirements.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The methods reviewed all contribute to our current picture of the stratum corneum. Tape stripping continues to be the most widely used, but variations in the use of the corneocytes obtained further contribute to the diversity in evaluation methods.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94121, USA. kaley.myer@nyumc.org
authors.forename: Kaley
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Myer
authors.forename: Howard
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Maibach
mesh_terms: D046169:Dermoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D004817:Epidermis / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D012869:Skin Absorption; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012882:Skin Tests / Q000379:methods*; D053832:Surgical Tape
keywords: barrier integrity; cohesion; stratum corneum; tape stripping; water loss