title: The how, why and clinical importance of stratum corneum acidification.
abstract: In this article, I review the multiple endogenous mechanisms that contribute to the highly acidic pH of normal stratum corneum (SC). Then, I describe how each mechanism potentially impacts specific defensive functions of the SC. Finally, I review the rapidly expanding, clinical implications and potential therapeutic applications of SC acidification.
authors.affiliation: Dermatology Service, Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, San Francisco, CA, USA.|Department of Dermatology, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Peter M
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-7989-4032
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Elias
mesh_terms: D004817:Epidermis / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology; D012879:Skin Physiological Phenomena
keywords: 
  pH
  ; acidification; barrier function; stratum corneum