The skin is the first line of defence. If the epidermal structure, the skin barrier, is altered, it weakens and skin disorders soon appear. If it happens, and skin regeneration and natural mechanisms for repair just fail, a therapeutic solution becomes essential.
One of the key elements to keep skin healthy and functional is to ensure that the structure of the epidermis is in good condition.
For over 50 years it has been recognised that the stratum corneum exhibits biological properties that contribute directly to maintaining and sustaining healthy skin. Basic science and clinical research continues with acute clinical observation has led to a more recent recognition and general acceptance that the stratum corneum serves many vital tasks in the ‘barrier’ function.
The epidermis remains a constant thickness and renews the stratum corneum acting as a natural wall against elements. Internally, in the course of its evolution through the various epidermal layers, the keratinocyte follows a programme of terminal differentiation. Different genes encoding structural proteins such as keratins and regulatory-like enzymes are turned on and off, contributing to the structure of the cells’ increasingly flattened, stiffer and more dense content.
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