Reference Values for Normal Epidermal Thickness in Koreans: A Histopathologic Investigation / 대한피부과학회지

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Epidermal thickness is a useful quantitative histopathological parameter to predict different skin conditions. For accurate diagnosis, the reference values of normal skin histology are essential. Until now, little data regarding epidermal thickness in normal Korean skin have been available. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the thickness of the epidermis, stratum corneum, and cellular epidermis by skin biopsy and to compare their regional, age, and sex variations in Koreans. METHODS: A total of 119 normal human skin tissues from 117 subjects were included. Skin specimens were preserved in sections by formalin-paraffin techniques and measured by performing light microscopy and using a calibrated ruler. RESULTS: The mean thickness of the epidermis was 140.6±32.6 µm (mean±standard deviation). Significant regional variations of epidermal thickness were found (p0.5) or sex (p>0.05, except for the thickness of the stratum corneum of the legs [p=0.007]). CONCLUSION: Regional variations of epidermal thickness were demonstrated. These variations were mostly independent of age or sex, which conflicts somewhat with previous studies. We present this research as a preliminary study, which may provide reference values for skin histopathology and epidermal thickness in normal Korean skin.