title: A population-based study of the stratum corneum moisture.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The stratum corneum (SC) has important functions as a bound-water modulator and a primary barrier of the human skin from the external environment. However, no large epidemiological study has quantified the relative importance of different exposures with regard to these functional properties. In this study, we have studied a large sample of individuals from the Brazilian population in order to understand the different relationships between the properties of SC and a number of demographic and self-perceived variables.
  
  
  METHODS
  One thousand three hundred and thirty-nine individuals from a rural Brazilian population, who were participants of a family-based study, were submitted to a cross-sectional examination of the SC moisture by capacitance using the Corneometer® CM820 and investigated regarding environmental exposures, cosmetic use, and other physiological and epidemiological measurements. Self-perception-scaled questions about skin conditions were also applied.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found significant associations between SC moisture and sex, age, high sun exposure, and sunscreen use frequency (P<0.025). In specific studied sites, self-reported race and obesity were also found to show significant effects. Dry skin self-perception was also found to be highly correlated with the objective measurement of the skin. Other environmental effects on SC moisture are also reported.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Genetics and Molecular Cardiology, Heart Institute, University of São Paulo Medical School, Cajamar, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Thiago
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: de Farias Pires
authors.affiliation: Natura Innovation and Product Technology Ltd., Cajamar, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ana Paula
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Azambuja
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Genetics and Molecular Cardiology, Heart Institute, University of São Paulo Medical School, Cajamar, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Andrea Roseli Vançan Russo
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Horimoto
authors.affiliation: Natura Innovation and Product Technology Ltd., Cajamar, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Mary Sanae
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Nakamura
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Genetics and Molecular Cardiology, Heart Institute, University of São Paulo Medical School, Cajamar, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Rafael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: de Oliveira Alvim
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Genetics and Molecular Cardiology, Heart Institute, University of São Paulo Medical School, Cajamar, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: José Eduardo
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Krieger
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Genetics and Molecular Cardiology, Heart Institute, University of São Paulo Medical School, Cajamar, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Alexandre Costa
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Pereira
keywords: Corneometer; familial data modeling; investigative dermatology; stratum corneum moisture; sun exposure