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      Variation of Skin Surface pH, Sebum Content and Stratum Corneum Hydration with Age and Gender in a Large Chinese Population

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          Abstract

          Background and Objectives: Evidence suggests the importance of skin biophysical properties in predicting diseases and in developing appropriate skin care. The results to date of studies on skin surface pH, stratum corneum (SC) hydration and sebum content in both genders and at various ages have been inconclusive, which was in part due to small sample size. Additionally, little is known about the skin physical properties of Asian, especially Chinese, subjects. In the present study, we assess the difference in skin surface pH, sebum content and SC hydration at various ages and in both genders in a large Chinese population without skin diseases. Methods: 713 subjects (328 males and 385 females) aged 0.5–94 years were enrolled in this study. The subjects were divided by age into 5 groups, i.e., 0–12, 13–35, 36–50, 51–70 and over 70 years old. A multifunctional skin physiology monitor was used to measure SC hydration, skin surface pH and sebum content on both the forehead and the forearms. Results: In males, the highest sebum content was found on the forearm and the forehead in the age groups 36–50 (93.47 ± 10.01 μg/cm<sup>2</sup>) and 51–70 years (9.16 ± 1.95 μg/cm<sup>2</sup>), while in females, the highest sebum content was found on the forearm and the forehead in the age groups 13–35 (61.91 ± 6.12 μg/cm<sup>2</sup>) and 51–70 years (7.54 ± 2.55 μg/cm<sup>2</sup>). The forehead sebum content was higher in males aged 13–70 years than in age-matched females; the sebum content on the forehead in both males and females was higher than that on the forearm. Skin surface pH on the forehead of both males and females over the age of 70 years was higher than that in younger groups. SC hydration on the forehead in both males and females was lower above the age of 70, and the one in males aged 13–35 was higher than that in females (43.99 ± 1.88 vs. 36.38 ± 1.67 AU, p < 0.01). SC hydration on the forehead in both males and females did not significantly differ from that on the forearm. Conclusions: In a large Chinese cohort, the skin surface pH, sebum content and SC hydration vary with age, gender and body site.

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          Most cited references42

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          The aged epidermal permeability barrier. Structural, functional, and lipid biochemical abnormalities in humans and a senescent murine model.

          Aged epidermis displays altered drug permeability, increased susceptibility to irritant contact dermatitis, and often severe xerosis, suggesting compromise of the aged epidermal barrier. To delineate the functional, structural, and lipid biochemical basis of epidermal aging, we compared barrier function in young (20-30 yr) vs aged (> 80 yr) human subjects, and in a murine model. Baseline transepidermal water loss in both aged humans and senescent mice was subnormal. However, the aged barrier was perturbed more readily with either acetone or tape stripping (18 +/- 2 strippings vs 31 +/- 5 strippings in aged vs young human subjects, respectively). Moreover, after either acetone treatment or tape stripping, the barrier recovered more slowly in aged than in young human subjects (50 and 80% recovery at 24 and 72 h, respectively, in young subjects vs 15% recovery at 24 h in aged subjects), followed by a further delay over the next 6 d. Similar differences in barrier recovery were seen in senescent vs young mice. Although the total lipid content was decreased in the stratum corneum of aged mice (approximately 30%), the distribution of ceramides (including ceramide 1), cholesterol, and free fatty acids was unchanged. Moreover, a normal complement of esterified, very long-chain fatty acids was present. Finally, stratum corneum lamellar bilayers displayed normal substructure and dimensions, but were focally decreased in number, with decreased secretion of lamellar body contents. Thus, assessment of barrier function in aged epidermis under basal conditions is misleading, since both barrier integrity and barrier repair are markedly abnormal. These functional changes can be attributed to a global deficiency in all key stratum corneum lipids, resulting in decreased lamellar bilayers in the stratum corneum interstices. This constellation of findings may explain the increased susceptibility of intrinsically aged skin to exogenous and environmental insults.
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            Stress-induced changes in skin barrier function in healthy women.

            Despite clear exacerbation of several skin disorders by stress, the effect of psychologic or exertional stress on human skin has not been well studied. We investigated the effect of three different stressors, psychologic interview stress, sleep deprivation, and exercise, on several dermatologic measures: transepidermal water loss, recovery of skin barrier function after tape stripping, and stratum corneum water content (skin conductance). We simultaneously measured the effects of stress on plasma levels of several stress-response hormones and cytokines, natural killer cell activity, and absolute numbers of peripheral blood leukocytes. Twenty-five women participated in a laboratory psychologic interview stress, 11 women participated in one night of sleep deprivation, and 10 women participated in a 3 d exercise protocol. The interview stress caused a delay in the recovery of skin barrier function, as well as increases in plasma cortisol, norepinephrine, interleukin-1beta and interleukin-10, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and an increase in circulating natural killer cell activity and natural killer cell number. Sleep deprivation also decreased skin barrier function recovery and increased plasma interleukin-1beta, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and natural killer cell activity. The exercise stress did not affect skin barrier function recovery, but caused an increase in natural killer cell activity and circulating numbers of both cytolytic T lymphocytes and helper T cells. In addition, cytokine responses to the interview stress were inversely correlated with changes in barrier function recovery. These results suggest that acute psychosocial and sleep deprivation stress disrupts skin barrier function homeostasis in women, and that this disruption may be related to stress-induced changes in cytokine secretion.
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              Skin aging. Effect on transepidermal water loss, stratum corneum hydration, skin surface pH, and casual sebum content.

              This study investigates the effect of cutaneous aging on transepidermal water loss, stratum corneum hydration (capacitance), skin surface pH, and causal sebum content. Because the physiologic condition of skin varies considerably with anatomic region and skin aging might demonstrate regional variability, all factors were studied on 11 anatomic locations in 14 young adult (seven female and seven male subjects; 26.7 +/- 2.8 years [mean +/- SD]) and 15 aged human volunteers (seven female and seven male subjects; 70.5 +/- 13.8 years). Significant anatomic variability was noted for all factors in both age groups. However, no significant differences between the two groups were noted for sebum, capacitance, and pH on most anatomic regions. Transepidermal water loss, however, was significantly lower in the aged population on all anatomic regions tested, except for the postauricular region and the palm. Comparing male and female volunteers, none of the four factors showed significant differences. Of all measured factors, only transepidermal water loss showed significant age-related differences on most anatomic regions studied. The additionally observed differences between the age groups on the ankle for pH and sebum might be related to the stasis frequently observed on the lower limbs in aged individuals.
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                Author and article information

                Journal
                SPP
                Skin Pharmacol Physiol
                10.1159/issn.1660-5527
                Skin Pharmacology and Physiology
                S. Karger AG
                1660-5527
                1660-5535
                2009
                September 2009
                31 July 2009
                : 22
                : 4
                : 190-199
                Affiliations
                aDepartment of Dermatology and Medicine, University of California School of Medicine, San Francisco, Calif., USA; bDalian Skin Disease Hospital and cDalian Medical University, Liaoning, and dDepartment of Dermatology, Zunyi Medical College, Guizhou, PR China; eDepartment of Dermatology, Boramae Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
                Article
                231524 PMC2836947 Skin Pharmacol Physiol 2009;22:190–199
                10.1159/000231524
                PMC2836947
                19648780
                f3ac2e33-90ee-45d5-a8de-0476a951a78c
                © 2009 S. Karger AG, Basel

                Copyright: All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be translated into other languages, reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, microcopying, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher. Drug Dosage: The authors and the publisher have exerted every effort to ensure that drug selection and dosage set forth in this text are in accord with current recommendations and practice at the time of publication. However, in view of ongoing research, changes in government regulations, and the constant flow of information relating to drug therapy and drug reactions, the reader is urged to check the package insert for each drug for any changes in indications and dosage and for added warnings and precautions. This is particularly important when the recommended agent is a new and/or infrequently employed drug. Disclaimer: The statements, opinions and data contained in this publication are solely those of the individual authors and contributors and not of the publishers and the editor(s). The appearance of advertisements or/and product references in the publication is not a warranty, endorsement, or approval of the products or services advertised or of their effectiveness, quality or safety. The publisher and the editor(s) disclaim responsibility for any injury to persons or property resulting from any ideas, methods, instructions or products referred to in the content or advertisements.

                History
                : 19 December 2008
                : 14 April 2009
                Page count
                Figures: 8, Tables: 1, References: 57, Pages: 10
                Categories
                Original Paper

                Oncology & Radiotherapy,Pathology,Surgery,Dermatology,Pharmacology & Pharmaceutical medicine
                Age differences,Skin surface pH,Stratum corneum hydration,Sebum

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