Effect of sun exposure on the skin: histological, histochemical, and immunohistochemical studies

ABSTRACT

The present work was designed to explore certain aspects concerning human skin in the domain of sun exposure. Skin biopsies were taken from fifteen subjects divided into two groups; chronically sun-exposed group consisted of 10 subjects and control group consists of 5 subjects with no history of chronic sun exposure. Histological signs of sun-damaged skin were prominent as a pronounced thickening of stratum corneum indicating a hyperproliferative state accompanied by a corresponding decrease in collagen content associated with large bundles of coarse abnormal elastic fibers. Depletion of Langerhans immune cells in addition to decreased nuclear DNA were also observed