Analysis of epidermal lipids of the healthy human skin: Factors affecting the design of a control population

The intervariability of studies on the lipids of human epidermis and stratum corneum is high because of the different origin of the skin samples and the variety of extraction methods used. In the present work, a high-performance thin-layer chromatographic technique has been used to study the parameters age, sex, and anatomical site for their effects on the lipid profiles recovered from healthy epidermal skin biopsy specimens. It was found that sex-related differences were seen at the level of the total ceramide concentration. Observed decreases in lipid concentration, due to ageing, depended on the anatomical site. Therefore, these variables should be controlled in a reproducible and standardized way in order to be able to study the direct relationship between skin condition and barrier lipid composition. Only when this relation is established, results of topical treatment can be scientifically evaluated. Copyright (C) 2004 S. Karger AG, Basel.