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The Water Barrier in Human Epidermis: Physical and Chemical Nature

The Water Barrier in Human Epidermis: Physical and Chemical Nature Abstract The rate of water vapor transpiration through normal excised human skin at 10 to 20 C is 2.9 gm/sq m/hr, with a standard deviation of 1.9 gm/sq m/hr. The rate of water vapor transpiration through excised skin is not affected by freezedrying, rapid freezing in 15% glycerol solution to 68 C, exposure to 0.1 normal sodium hydroxide or to 6 M urea for 24 hours, or exposure to boiling water or flaming benzene so long as the stratum corneum is not visibly physically disrupted. Stratum corneum, with an intact water vapor barrier, can be separated from the cellular epidermis by digestion of skin for 24 hours with 3% trypsin at 37 C. Stratum corneum so separated has no identifiable basal layers. Extraction with ether for 8 or 24 hours increases the rate of cutaneous transpiration of water vapor fourfold to ninefold. Extraction of excised human skin with acetone for 3 hours, followed by extraction with hexane for 8 hours, removes its water vapor barrier properties and increases the rate of transpiration 75-fold. Replacing the substances removed by acetone-hexane extraction onto the surface of the acetone-hexane extracted, water-vapor-barrier-lacking skin almost completely restores the water vapor barrier to normal, indicating that the physical structural characteristics of the epidermis have little to do with maintenance of the water vapor barrier. A theoretical scheme of the physical-chemical nature of the water vapor barrier, based on our observations, and on previous data, is presented. This water vapor barrier complex in the stratum corneum is about 98% efficient. Water vapor moved through skin having an intact barrier at the rate of 2.9±1.9 gm/ sq m/hr with temperatures varying between 10 and 20 C, while it moved through barrierdeficient skin at the rate of 229±81 gm/ sq m/hr at the same temperatures. References 1. Berenson, G. S., and Burch, G. E.: Studies of Diffusion of Water Through Dead Human Skin: The Effect of Different Environmental State and of Chemical Alterations of the Epidermis , Amer J Trop Med 31:842-853, 1951. 2. Bettley, F. R., and Donoghue, E.: Effect of Soap on the Diffusion of Water Through Isolated Human Epidermis , Nature (London) 185:17-20, 1960.Crossref 3. Blank, I. H.: Factors Which Influence the Water Content of the Stratum Corneum , J Invest Derm 18:433-439, 1952. 4. Blank, I. H.: Further Observations on Factors Which Influence the Water Content of the Stratum Corneum , J Invest Derm 21:259-269, 1953.Crossref 5. Blank, I. H., and Gould, E.: Penetration of Anionic Surfactants Into Skin , J Invest Derm 37: 311-316, 1961.Crossref 6. Buettner, K.: Diffusion of Water and Water Vapor Through Human Skin , J Appl Physiol 6: 229-242, 1953. 7. Burch, G. E., and Winsor, T.: Rate of Insensible Perspiration (Diffusion of Water) Locally Through Living and Through Dead Human Skin , Arch Intern Med 74:437-444, 1944.Crossref 8. Fallon, R., and Moyer, C. A.: Submitted for publication. 9. Griesemer, R. D.: " Protection Against the Transfer of Matter Through the Skin ," in The Human Integument , Washington, DC: American Association for the Advancement of Science, 1959, pp 25-46. 10. Kuno, Y.: Human Perspiration , Springfield, Ill: Charles C Thomas, Publisher, 1956, pp 29-32, 370-376. 11. Lieberman, Z. H., and Lansche, J. M.: Effects of Thermal Injury on Metabolic Rate and Insensible Water Loss in the Rat , Surg Forum 7:83, 1956. 12. Mali, J. W. H.: The Transport of Water Through the Human Epidermis , J Invest Derm 27: 451-469, 1956.Crossref 13. Moyer, C. A.: " Metabolism of Burned Mammals and Its Relationship to Vaporizational Heat Loss and Other Parameters ," in Artz, C. P.: Research in Burns , Publication 9, American Institute of Biological Sciences, Philadelphia: F. A. Davis Co., 1962, pp 113-120. 14. Pinson, E. A.: Evaporation From Human Skin With Sweat Glands Inactivated , Amer J Physiol 137:492-500, 1942. 15. Rothman, S.: Physiology and Biochemistry of the Skin , Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1954, p 26 ff and p 233 ff. http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Archives of Dermatology American Medical Association

The Water Barrier in Human Epidermis: Physical and Chemical Nature

Archives of Dermatology , Volume 87 (5) – May 1, 1963

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References (15)

Publisher
American Medical Association
Copyright
Copyright © 1963 American Medical Association. All Rights Reserved.
ISSN
0003-987X
eISSN
1538-3652
DOI
10.1001/archderm.1963.01590170042007
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

Abstract The rate of water vapor transpiration through normal excised human skin at 10 to 20 C is 2.9 gm/sq m/hr, with a standard deviation of 1.9 gm/sq m/hr. The rate of water vapor transpiration through excised skin is not affected by freezedrying, rapid freezing in 15% glycerol solution to 68 C, exposure to 0.1 normal sodium hydroxide or to 6 M urea for 24 hours, or exposure to boiling water or flaming benzene so long as the stratum corneum is not visibly physically disrupted. Stratum corneum, with an intact water vapor barrier, can be separated from the cellular epidermis by digestion of skin for 24 hours with 3% trypsin at 37 C. Stratum corneum so separated has no identifiable basal layers. Extraction with ether for 8 or 24 hours increases the rate of cutaneous transpiration of water vapor fourfold to ninefold. Extraction of excised human skin with acetone for 3 hours, followed by extraction with hexane for 8 hours, removes its water vapor barrier properties and increases the rate of transpiration 75-fold. Replacing the substances removed by acetone-hexane extraction onto the surface of the acetone-hexane extracted, water-vapor-barrier-lacking skin almost completely restores the water vapor barrier to normal, indicating that the physical structural characteristics of the epidermis have little to do with maintenance of the water vapor barrier. A theoretical scheme of the physical-chemical nature of the water vapor barrier, based on our observations, and on previous data, is presented. This water vapor barrier complex in the stratum corneum is about 98% efficient. Water vapor moved through skin having an intact barrier at the rate of 2.9±1.9 gm/ sq m/hr with temperatures varying between 10 and 20 C, while it moved through barrierdeficient skin at the rate of 229±81 gm/ sq m/hr at the same temperatures. References 1. Berenson, G. S., and Burch, G. E.: Studies of Diffusion of Water Through Dead Human Skin: The Effect of Different Environmental State and of Chemical Alterations of the Epidermis , Amer J Trop Med 31:842-853, 1951. 2. Bettley, F. R., and Donoghue, E.: Effect of Soap on the Diffusion of Water Through Isolated Human Epidermis , Nature (London) 185:17-20, 1960.Crossref 3. Blank, I. H.: Factors Which Influence the Water Content of the Stratum Corneum , J Invest Derm 18:433-439, 1952. 4. Blank, I. H.: Further Observations on Factors Which Influence the Water Content of the Stratum Corneum , J Invest Derm 21:259-269, 1953.Crossref 5. Blank, I. H., and Gould, E.: Penetration of Anionic Surfactants Into Skin , J Invest Derm 37: 311-316, 1961.Crossref 6. Buettner, K.: Diffusion of Water and Water Vapor Through Human Skin , J Appl Physiol 6: 229-242, 1953. 7. Burch, G. E., and Winsor, T.: Rate of Insensible Perspiration (Diffusion of Water) Locally Through Living and Through Dead Human Skin , Arch Intern Med 74:437-444, 1944.Crossref 8. Fallon, R., and Moyer, C. A.: Submitted for publication. 9. Griesemer, R. D.: " Protection Against the Transfer of Matter Through the Skin ," in The Human Integument , Washington, DC: American Association for the Advancement of Science, 1959, pp 25-46. 10. Kuno, Y.: Human Perspiration , Springfield, Ill: Charles C Thomas, Publisher, 1956, pp 29-32, 370-376. 11. Lieberman, Z. H., and Lansche, J. M.: Effects of Thermal Injury on Metabolic Rate and Insensible Water Loss in the Rat , Surg Forum 7:83, 1956. 12. Mali, J. W. H.: The Transport of Water Through the Human Epidermis , J Invest Derm 27: 451-469, 1956.Crossref 13. Moyer, C. A.: " Metabolism of Burned Mammals and Its Relationship to Vaporizational Heat Loss and Other Parameters ," in Artz, C. P.: Research in Burns , Publication 9, American Institute of Biological Sciences, Philadelphia: F. A. Davis Co., 1962, pp 113-120. 14. Pinson, E. A.: Evaporation From Human Skin With Sweat Glands Inactivated , Amer J Physiol 137:492-500, 1942. 15. Rothman, S.: Physiology and Biochemistry of the Skin , Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1954, p 26 ff and p 233 ff.

Journal

Archives of DermatologyAmerican Medical Association

Published: May 1, 1963

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