Understanding age-induced alterations to the biomechanical barrier function of human stratum corneum.
BACKGROUND
The appearance and function of human skin are dramatically altered with aging, resulting in higher rates of severe xerosis and other skin complaints. The outermost layer of the epidermis, the stratum corneum (SC), is responsible for the biomechanical barrier function of skin and is also adversely transformed with age. With age the keratin filaments within the corneocytes are prone to crosslinking, the amount of intercellular lipids decreases resulting in fewer lipid bilayers, and the rate of corneocyte turnover decreases.


OBJECTIVE
The effect of these structural changes on the mechanical properties of the SC has not been determined. Here we determine how several aspects of the SC's mechanical properties are dramatically degraded with age.


METHODS
We performed a range of biomechanical experiments, including micro-tension, bulge, double cantilever beam, and substrate curvature testing on abdominal stratum corneum from cadaveric female donors ranging in age from 29 to 93 years old.


RESULTS
We found that the SC stiffens with age, indicating that the keratin fibers stiffen, similarly to collagen fibers in the dermis. The cellular cohesion also increases with age, a result of the altered intercellular lipid structure. The kinetics of water movement through the SC is also decreased.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results indicate that the combination of structural and mechanical property changes that occur with age are quite significant and may contribute to the prevalence of skin disorders among the elderly.
Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.
Krysta
K
Biniek
The Procter & Gamble Company, Cincinnati, OH, USA.
Joseph
J
Kaczvinsky
The Procter & Gamble Company, Egham, UK.
Paul
P
Matts
Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA. Electronic address: dauskardt@stanford.edu.
Reinhold H
RH
Dauskardt
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D002102:Cadaver; D004548:Elasticity; D004817:Epidermis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007633:Keratins / Q000378:metabolism; D007700:Kinetics; D050356:Lipid Metabolism; D008875:Middle Aged; D010539:Permeability; D015595:Skin Aging; D014867:Water / Q000378:metabolism
D014867:Water; D007633:Keratins
Aging; Corneocyte cohesion; Drying stress; Stratum corneum