Stratum corneum drying drives vertical compression and lipid organization and improves barrier function in vitro.

The stratum corneum dehydrates after exogenous hydration due to skincare or bathing. In this study, sheets of stratum corneum were isolated from reconstructed human epidermis and the barrier function and structure of these sheets were assessed during drying with the aim of improving our understanding of skincare. Water diffusion through the sheets of stratum corneum decreased with drying, accompanied by decreased thickness and increased visible light transmission through the sheets.

Comparison of sagging at the cheek and lower eyelid between male and female faces.

Background: Facial sagging is a well-known morphological feature associated with aging and reduced dermal elasticity. Its morphological characteristics and mechanism have been studied in females, but it is unclear whether or not there is a gender difference.

Aims: The aim of this study was to clarify the morphological characteristics of sagging and the mechanism of sagging formation in male faces as compared with female faces, focusing on changes in dermal elasticity.

Polyoxyethylene/polyoxypropylen dimethyl ether (EPDME) improves the structure of intercellular lipids in SDS-induced dry skin.

The dimethyl ether of an amphiphilic random ethylene oxide/propylene oxide copolymer (EPDME) is useful for the preparation of finely dispersed micro-emulsions. We examined whether EPDME is effective for skin moisturization by means of electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) studies of ex vivo specimens of stratum corneum (SC) obtained by successive stripping. The values of the order parameter S obtained by EPR measurement indicated that EPDME treatment improved sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)-induced disruption of SC lipid structures.

Depth dependence of stratum corneum lipid ordering: a slow-tumbling simulation for electron paramagnetic resonance.

We investigated the structural ordering of stratum corneum (SC) lipid by means of electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) slow-tumbling simulation in conjunction with spin probe studies. The SC of human mid-volar forearm was stripped consecutively from three to six times. The EPR probe method detected a characteristic peak of sebaceous matter in the first SC stripping.