Biochemical Approach for Diagnosis of Skin Conditions and Evaluation of Skin Care Products

Abstract

Skin surface conditions are dependent upon the rates of the epidermal proliferation and keratinization. Then, the biochemical parameters influencing the corneocyte turnover rate, as well as the physical parameters of stratum corneum, are important for the evaluation of the skin surface conditions. The morphology of the corneocytes, such as shape, density, nuclear inclusion, area, and multistripping, reflects the rates of epidermal proliferation and keratinization. In addition, the protease activity and the peroxide-scavenging ability of the stratum corneum are related with the corneocyte turnover rate. The skin surface conditions might be classified in detail by the combination of the biochemical properties and the physical properties of the stratum corneum.