title: Influence of skin area, age and sex on corneometric determinations.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Comeometry represents a useful tool for dermatologists, even though several interfering variables may reduce its reliability level. The present study describes some of the methodological points that optimize corneometric measurements and analyzes the interference due to the skin area selected, the age and the sex of the individuals observed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results show that skin areas may present significantly different corneometric values. In addition, a significant correlation of the corneometric values at most of the sites was observed independently of the sun-exposed site.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The corneometric values were clearly age dependent and sex independent. Measurements were obtained from eight different body areas (two of them were symmetric and presented superimposable results). The volar forearm appears to be the area least influenced by the patients'age and presents the lowest correlation coefficients with other skin sites.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Clinical Pathology, Istituto S. Gallicano IRCCS, Rome, ItalyDepartment of Dermatology, Istituto S. Gallicano IRCCS, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mussi
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Clinical Pathology, Istituto S. Gallicano IRCCS, Rome, ItalyDepartment of Dermatology, Istituto S. Gallicano IRCCS, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Carducci
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Clinical Pathology, Istituto S. Gallicano IRCCS, Rome, ItalyDepartment of Dermatology, Istituto S. Gallicano IRCCS, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: D'Agosto
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Clinical Pathology, Istituto S. Gallicano IRCCS, Rome, ItalyDepartment of Dermatology, Istituto S. Gallicano IRCCS, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bonifati
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Clinical Pathology, Istituto S. Gallicano IRCCS, Rome, ItalyDepartment of Dermatology, Istituto S. Gallicano IRCCS, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fazio
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Clinical Pathology, Istituto S. Gallicano IRCCS, Rome, ItalyDepartment of Dermatology, Istituto S. Gallicano IRCCS, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ameglio
keywords: age; comeometry; methodology; sex; skin area