Makoto Hoshino

Mar 13, 2024 | sciencedirect.com | Scott Smith |Makoto Hoshino |Kengo Kubota

One of the functions of the skin is to serve as a physical barrier. It keeps water in the body and prevents entry of foreign material, including chemicals, pathogens, allergens, and toxins, into the body. To perform this function, the skin comprises a unique outer layer called the stratum corneum, which consists of densely packed dead cells called corneocytes (Fig 1, A). The corneocytes are rich in proteins and are dispersed in a lipid-rich phase.