Morphological and Quantitative Assessment of Physical Changes in the Horny Layer in Ichthyosis

Abstract

Techniques are described which assess morphological and physical changes in ichthyotic stratum corneum. Replicas of the skin surface were viewed by scanning electron microscopy and an abnormality in desquamation was seen which suggested a greater adherence than usual between ichthyotic squames. An instrument was employed to measure the force required to remove partial thickness horny layer in vivo (cohesography). There was greater intracorneal cohesion in patients with severe ichthyosis than in normals. Skin surface biopsies taken from these patients revealed abnormal tracings when examined and measured in a surfometer which also suggested a greater than usual intracorneal cohesion. An X-ray probe microanalyser within a scanning electron microscope was used to investigate the distribution of elements in ichthyotic and normal stratum corneum and preliminary results suggested an abnormal distribution of sulphur and potassium in the former.