Skip to main content

Stratum Corneum Desquamation

  • Reference work entry
  • First Online:
Agache's Measuring the Skin

Abstract

Desquamation is a regular process participating in the stratum corneum self-renewal. It is globally correlated with the intercorneocyte cohesion and binding forces. Scaliness and xerosis represent frequent disorders of desquamation. The methods of assessment rely either on spontaneous or forced desquamation. Presently, the most common procedures involve specially designed tapes and cyanoacrylate skin surface strippings. The corneocytes are possibly stained in vivo using fluorescent or chromatic dyes. Assessments rely on visual, gravimetric, photometric, specular light reflectance, and image analysis methods.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 649.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book
USD 899.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Abbreviations

ACD:

Adhesive-coated disk

CSSS:

Cyanoacrylate skin surface stripping

DC:

Dansyl chloride

DHA:

Dihydroxyacetone

ETT:

Epidermal turnover time

NMF:

Natural moisturizing factor

SC:

Stratum corneum

SCMI:

Skin capacitance mapping/imaging

References

  • Bazin R, Laquièze S, Rosillo A, Lévêque JL. Photoaging of the chest analyzed by capacitance imaging. Skin Res Technol. 2010;16:23–9.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Chu M, Kollias N. Documentation of normal stratum corneum scaling in an average population: features of differences among age, ethnicity and body site. Br J Dermatol. 2011;164:497–507.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Corcuff P, Chatenay F, Lévêque JL. Desquamation of the stratum corneum: kinetics following UV-induced injury. Acta Derm Venereol. 1987;134:S35–8.

    Google Scholar 

  • Egelrud T, Lundstrom A. A chymotrypsin-like proteinase that may be involved in desquamation in plantar stratum corneum. Arch Dermatol Res. 1991;283:108–12.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Guz NV, Gaikwad RM, Dokukun ME, Sokolov I. A novel in vitro stripping method to study geometry of corneocytes with fluorescent microscopy: example of aging skin. Skin Res Technol. 2009;15:379–83.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Haftek M, Callejon S, Sandjeu Y, Padois K, Falson F, Pirot F, Portes P, Demarne F, Jannin V. Compartmentalization of the human stratum corneum by persistent tight junction-like structures. Exp Dermatol. 2011;20:617–21.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Igawa S, Kishibe M, Murakami M, Honma M, Takahashi H, Iizuka H, Ishida-Yamamoto A. Tight junctions in the stratum corneum explain spatial differences in corneodesmosome degradation. Exp Dermatol. 2011;20:53–7.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ishida-Yamamoto A, Igawa S, Kishibe M. Order and disorder in corneocyte adhesion. J Dermatol. 2011;38:645–54.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kim MY, Lee SE, Chang JY, Kim SC. Retinoid induces the degradation of corneodesmosomes and downregulation of corneodesmosomal cadherins: implications on the mechanism of retinoid-induced desquamation. Ann Dermatol. 2011;23:439–47.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Lévêque JL, Corcuff P, Gonnord G, Montastier C, Renault B, Bazin R, Piérard GE, Poelman MC. Mechanism of action of a lipophilic derivative of salicylic acid on normal skin. Skin Res Technol. 1995;1:115–22.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lin TK, Crumrine D, Ackerman LD, Santiago JL, Roelandt T, Uchida Y, Hupe M, Fabrias G, Abad JL, Rice RH, Elias PM. Cellular changes that accompany shedding of human corneocytes. J Invest Dermatol. 2012;132:2430–9.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Mohammed D, Matts PJ, Hadgraft J, Lane ME. Depth profiling of stratum corneum biophysical and molecular properties. Br J Dermatol. 2011;164:957–65.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Paye M, Simion A, Piérard GE. Dansyl chloride labelling of stratum corneum: its rapid extraction from skin can predict skin irritation due to surfactants and cleansing products. Contact Dermatitis. 1994;30:91–6.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Paye M, Gomes G, Zerweg C, Piérard GE, Grove GG. A hand immersion test under laboratory-controlled usage conditions: a need for sensitive and controlled assessment methods. Contact Dermatitis. 1999;40:133–8.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Piérard GE. What do you mean by dry skin? Dermatologica. 1989;179:1–2.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Piérard GE. Microscopic evaluation of the dansyl chloride test. Dermatology. 1992;185:37–40.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Piérard GE. EEMCO guidance for the assessment of dry skin (xerosis) and ichthyosis: evaluation by stratum corneum strippings. Skin Res Technol. 1996;2:3–11.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Piérard GE, Piérard-Franchimont C. Dihydroxyacetone test as a substitute for the dansyl chloride test. Dermatology. 1993;186:133–7.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Piérard GE, Piérard-Franchimont C, Saint Léger D, Kligman AM. Squamometry: the assessment of xerosis by colorimetry of D-Squame adhesive discs. J Soc Cosmet Chem. 1992;47:297–305.

    Google Scholar 

  • Piérard GE, Goffin V, Hermanns-Lê T, Piérard-Franchimont C. Corneocyte desquamation. Int J Mol Med. 2000;6:217–21.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Piérard GE, Xhauflaire-Uhoda E, Piérard-Franchimont C. The key role of corneocytes in pityrosporoses. Dermatology. 2006;212:23–6.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Piérard-Franchimont C, Piérard GE. Skin surface stripping in diagnosing and monitoring inflammatory, xerotic and neoplastic diseases. Pediatr Dermatol. 1985;2:180–4.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Piérard-Franchimont C, Goffin V, Piérard GE. Modulation of human stratum corneum properties by salicylic acid and all-trans-retinoic acid. Skin Pharmacol Appl Skin Physiol. 1998;11:266–72.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Piérard-Franchimont C, Henry F, Piérard GE. The SACD method and the XLRS squamometry test revisited. Int J Cosmet Sci. 2000;22:437–46.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Piérard-Franchimont C, Quatresooz P, Piérard GE. Specular light reflectance of flakes in seborrheic dermatitis of the scalp. A pilot study. Clin Exp Dermatol. 2011;36:793–6.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Piérard GE, Pierard-Franchimont C, Paquet P. Hermanns-Le T, Radermacher J, Delvenne P. Cyanoacrylate skin surface strippings and the 3S-Biokit advent in tropical dermatology. A look from Liège. The Scientific World Journal, 2014;214:462634.

    Google Scholar 

  • Piérard GE, Courtois J, Ritacco C, Humbert P, Fanian F. Pierard-Franchimont C. From observational to analytical morphology of the stratum corneum : progress avoiding hazardous animal and human testings. Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2015;8:113–125.

    Google Scholar 

  • Roberts D, Marks R. The determination of regional and age variations in the rate of desquamation: a comparison of four techniques. J Invest Dermatol. 1980;74:13–6.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Schwarz JC, Klang V, Hoppel M, Wolzt M, Valenta C. Corneocyte quantification by NIR densitometry and UV/Vis spectroscopy for human and porcine skin and the role of skin cleaning procedures. Skin Pharmacol Physiol. 2012;25:142–9.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Shimizu T, Maibach HI. Squamometry: an evaluation method for a barrier protectant (tannic acid). Contact Dermatitis. 1999;40:189–91.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Takahashi M, Machida Y, Marks R. A new apparatus to measure rate of desquamation using dansyl chloride fluorescence. Arch Dermatol Res. 1987;279:281–2.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Uhoda E, Piérard-Franchimont C, Debatisse B, Wang X, Piérard GE. Repair kinetics of stratum corneum under repeated insults. Exog Dermatol. 2004;3:7–11.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Gérald E. Piérard .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2017 Springer International Publishing Switzerland

About this entry

Cite this entry

Piérard, G.E., Hermanns-Lê, T., Piérard-Franchimont, C. (2017). Stratum Corneum Desquamation. In: Humbert, P., Fanian, F., Maibach, H., Agache, P. (eds) Agache's Measuring the Skin. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-32383-1_25

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-32383-1_25

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-32381-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-32383-1

  • eBook Packages: MedicineReference Module Medicine

Publish with us

Policies and ethics