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Vernix Caseosa and Its Substitutes: Lipid Composition and Physicochemical Properties

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Treatment of Dry Skin Syndrome

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Abstract

Appropriate moisturization is essential for optimum stratum corneum (SC) function [1, 2]. Among the multiple functions of the skin affected by SC water content are desquamation and self-renewal, restoration of barrier integrity after wounding, acid mantle formation, microbial colonization, tactile discrimination, infection control, immunosurveillance, and protection against ultraviolet light and environmental irritants [3]. Operationally, “appropriate” hydration may be defined as: that amount of SC water which optimizes local SC biomechanics while facilitating terminal differentiation, programmed cell death, and orderly corneocyte incorporation into the inner SC with balanced pH-dependent desquamation of the outer SC. Overhydration can cause maceration, disruption of the intercellular lipid bilayers, degradation of desmosomes and creation of amorphous regions, corneocyte swelling, and enhanced molecular transport with increased permeability [4–6], as well as inflammation, irritation, and urticaria [7–12]. Low hydration can cause visible dryness/scaling, aberrant desquamation via reduced enzyme activity, cracking, reduced flexibility, tightness, and itching. On balance, the SC water-handling properties must be sufficiently robust to respond to local, potentially disruptive forces, for example, friction, heat, humidity, bathing, clothing, secretions, and topical product applications [13].

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Skin Sciences Program, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA

    Marty O. Visscher Ph.D. & Steven B. Hoath M.D.

  2. Division of Plastic Surgery, College of Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA

    Marty O. Visscher Ph.D.

  3. Perinatal Institute, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA

    Steven B. Hoath M.D.

  4. Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA

    Steven B. Hoath M.D.

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  1. Marty O. Visscher Ph.D.
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Correspondence to Steven B. Hoath M.D. .

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  1. Eviderm Institute, Bergshamra Allé 9, Solna, 17077, Sweden

    Marie Lodén

  2. School of Medicine, Department Dermatology, University of California, San Francisco, Divisadero 1701, San Francisco, 94143-0989, California, USA

    Howard I. Maibach

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Visscher, M.O., Hoath, S.B. (2012). Vernix Caseosa and Its Substitutes: Lipid Composition and Physicochemical Properties. In: Lodén, M., Maibach, H. (eds) Treatment of Dry Skin Syndrome. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-27606-4_13

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