Skin Pharmacology and Physiology

Original Paper

Free Access

Variation of Skin Surface pH, Sebum Content and Stratum Corneum Hydration with Age and Gender in a Large Chinese Population

Man M.Q.a · Xin S.J.b · Song S.P.b · Cho S.Y.e · Zhang X.J.d · Tu C.X.c · Feingold K.R.a · Elias P.M.a

Author affiliations

aDepartment of Dermatology and Medicine, University of California School of Medicine, San Francisco, Calif., USA; bDalian Skin Disease Hospital and cDalian Medical University, Liaoning, and dDepartment of Dermatology, Zunyi Medical College, Guizhou, PR China; eDepartment of Dermatology, Boramae Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea

Corresponding Author

Mao-Qiang Man, MD

Dermatology Service (190)

4150 Clement Street

San Francisco, CA 94121 (USA)

Tel. +1 415 750 2091, Fax +1 415 750 2106, E-Mail mqman@hotmail.com

Keywords: Age differencesStratum corneum hydrationSkin surface pHSebum

Related Articles for ""
Skin Pharmacol Physiol 2009;22:190–199
https://doi.org/10.1159/000231524

Abstract

Background and Objectives: Evidence suggests the importance of skin biophysical properties in predicting diseases and in developing appropriate skin care. The results to date of studies on skin surface pH, stratum corneum (SC) hydration and sebum content in both genders and at various ages have been inconclusive, which was in part due to small sample size. Additionally, little is known about the skin physical properties of Asian, especially Chinese, subjects. In the present study, we assess the difference in skin surface pH, sebum content and SC hydration at various ages and in both genders in a large Chinese population without skin diseases. Methods: 713 subjects (328 males and 385 females) aged 0.5–94 years were enrolled in this study. The subjects were divided by age into 5 groups, i.e., 0–12, 13–35, 36–50, 51–70 and over 70 years old. A multifunctional skin physiology monitor was used to measure SC hydration, skin surface pH and sebum content on both the forehead and the forearms. Results: In males, the highest sebum content was found on the forearm and the forehead in the age groups 36–50 (93.47 ± 10.01 μg/cm2) and 51–70 years (9.16 ± 1.95 μg/cm2), while in females, the highest sebum content was found on the forearm and the forehead in the age groups 13–35 (61.91 ± 6.12 μg/cm2) and 51–70 years (7.54 ± 2.55 μg/cm2). The forehead sebum content was higher in males aged 13–70 years than in age-matched females; the sebum content on the forehead in both males and females was higher than that on the forearm. Skin surface pH on the forehead of both males and females over the age of 70 years was higher than that in younger groups. SC hydration on the forehead in both males and females was lower above the age of 70, and the one in males aged 13–35 was higher than that in females (43.99 ± 1.88 vs. 36.38 ± 1.67 AU, p < 0.01). SC hydration on the forehead in both males and females did not significantly differ from that on the forearm. Conclusions: In a large Chinese cohort, the skin surface pH, sebum content and SC hydration vary with age, gender and body site.

© 2009 S. Karger AG, Basel


References

  1. Firooz A, Gorouhi F, Davari P, Atarod M, Hekmat S, Rashighi-Firoozabadi M, Solhpour A: Comparison of hydration, sebum and pH values in clinically normal skin of patients with atopic dermatitis and healthy controls. Clin Exp Dermatol 2007;32:321–322.
    External Resources
  2. Sator PG, Schmidt JB, Hönigsmann H: Comparison of epidermal hydration and skin surface lipids in healthy individuals and in patients with atopic dermatitis. J Am Acad Dermatol 2003;48:352–358.
    External Resources
  3. Hon KL, Wong KY, Leung TF, Chow CM, Ng PC: Comparison of skin hydration evaluation sites and correlations among skin hydration, transepidermal water loss, SCORAD index, Nottingham Eczema Severity Score, and quality of life in patients with atopic dermatitis. Am J Clin Dermatol 2008;9:45–50.
    External Resources
  4. Gupta J, Grube E, Ericksen MB, Stevenson MD, Lucky AW, Sheth AP, Assa’ad AH, Khurana Hershey GK: Intrinsically defective skin barrier function in children with atopic dermatitis correlates with disease severity. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2008;121:725–730.
    External Resources
  5. Tomita Y, Akiyama M, Shimizu H: Stratum corneum hydration and flexibility are useful parameters to indicate clinical severity of congenital ichthyosis. Exp Dermatol 2005;14:619–624.
    External Resources
  6. Grubauer G, Feingold KR, Elias PM: Relationship of epidermal lipogenesis to cutaneous barrier function. J Lipid Res 1987;28:746–752.
    External Resources
  7. Proksch E, Feingold KR, Elias PM: Epidermal HMG CoA reductase activity in essential fatty acid deficiency: barrier requirements rather than eicosanoid generation regulate cholesterol synthesis. J Invest Dermatol 1992;99:216–220.
    External Resources
  8. Denda M, Tsuchiya T, Elias PM, Feingold KR: Stress alters cutaneous permeability barrier homeostasis. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol 2000;278:R367–R372.
    External Resources
  9. Garg A, Chren MM, Sands LP, Matsui MS, Marenus KD, Feingold KR, Elias PM: Psychological stress perturbs epidermal permeability barrier homeostasis: implications for the pathogenesis of stress-associated skin disorders. Arch Dermatol 2001;137:53–59.
    External Resources
  10. Altemus M, Rao B, Dhabhar FS, Ding W, Granstein RD: Stress-induced changes in skin barrier function in healthy women. J Invest Dermatol 2001;117:309–317.
    External Resources
  11. Denda M, Tsuchiya T, Hosoi J, Koyama J: Immobilization-induced and crowded environment-induced stress delay barrier recovery in murine skin. Br J Dermatol 1998;138:780–785.
    External Resources
  12. Kato A, Hamada M, Maruyama T, Maruyama Y, Hishida A: Pruritus and hydration state of stratum corneum in hemodialysis patients. Am J Nephrol 2000;20:437–442.
    External Resources
  13. Morton CA, Lafferty M, Hau C, Henderson I, Jones M, Lowe JG: Pruritus and skin hydration during dialysis. Nephrol Dial Transplant 1996;11:2031–2036.
    External Resources
  14. Yosipovitch G, Tur E, Morduchowicz G, Boner G: Skin surface pH, moisture, and pruritus in haemodialysis patients. Nephrol Dial Transplant 1993;8:1129–1132.
    External Resources
  15. Song SP, Lv CZ, Feingold KR, Hou QN, Li ZY, Guo CY, Elias PM, Man MQ: Abnormalities in stratum corneum function in patients recovered from leprosy. Skin Pharmacol Physiol 2009;22:131–136.
    External Resources
  16. Ohman H, Vahlquist A: The pH gradient over the stratum corneum differs in X-linked recessive and autosomal dominant ichthyosis: a clue to the molecular origin of the ‘acid skin mantle’? J Invest Dermatol 1998;111:674–677.
    External Resources
  17. Ohta H, Makita K, Kawashima T, Kinoshita S, Takenouchi M, Nozawa S: Relationship between dermato-physiological changes and hormonal status in pre-, peri-, and postmenopausal women. Maturitas 1998;30:55–62.
    External Resources
  18. Guinot C, Malvy D, Ambroisine L, Latreille J, Mauger E, Guéhenneux S, Morizot F, Tschachler E: Effect of hormonal replacement therapy on skin biophysical properties of menopausal women. Skin Res Technol 2005;11:201–204.
    External Resources
  19. Sator PG, Schmidt JB, Sator MO, Huber JC, Hönigsmann H: The influence of hormone replacement therapy on skin ageing: a pilot study. Maturitas 2001;39:43–55.
    External Resources
  20. Sator PG, Sator MO, Schmidt JB, Nahavandi H, Radakovic S, Huber JC, Hönigsmann H: A prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study on the influence of a hormone replacement therapy on skin aging in postmenopausal women. Climacteric 2007;10:320–334.
    External Resources
  21. McDaniel D, Neudecker B, Dinardo J, Lewis J 2nd, Maibach H: Clinical efficacy assessment in photodamaged skin of 0.5 and 1.0% idebenone. J Cosmet Dermatol 2005;4:167–173.
    External Resources
  22. Tagami H: Scientific characterization of subclinical skin changes by noninvasive biophysical methods for development of more efficacious skin care products. Int J Cosmet Sci 2007;29:409–410.
    External Resources
  23. Aschoff R, Schwanebeck U, Bräutigam M, Meurer M: Skin physiological parameters confirm the therapeutic efficacy of pimecrolimus cream 1% in patients with mild-to-moderate atopic dermatitis. Exp Dermatol 2009;18:24–29.
    External Resources
  24. Kikuchi K, Tagami H, Agawa Y, Akazaki S, Ando M, Hayashi A, Hayashi T, Hirao T, Ishida T, Ito K, Kurimura I, Matsumoto K, Nozaki F, Ozawa T, Takahashi M: Noninvasive biophysical assessments of the efficacy of a moisturizing cosmetic cream base for patients with atopic dermatitis during different seasons. Br J Dermatol 2008;158:969–978.
    External Resources
  25. Brazzelli V, Barbagallo T, Prestinari F, Rona C, De Silvestri A, Trevisan V, Borroni G: Non-invasive evaluation of tacalcitol plus PUVA versus tacalcitol plus UVB-NB in the treatment of psoriasis: ‘right-left intra-individual pre/post comparison design’. Int J Immunopathol Pharmacol 2005;18:755–760.
    External Resources
  26. Rim JH, Jo SJ, Park JY, Park BD, Youn JI: Electrical measurement of moisturizing effect on skin hydration and barrier function in psoriasis patients. Clin Exp Dermatol 2005;30:409–413.
    External Resources
  27. Marrakchi S, Maibach HI: Biophysical parameters of skin: map of human face, regional, and age-related differences. Contact Dermatitis 2007;57:28–34.
    External Resources
  28. Wilhelm KP, Cua AB, Maibach HI: Skin aging: effect on transepidermal water loss, stratum corneum hydration, skin surface pH, and casual sebum content. Arch Dermatol 1991;127:1806–1809.
    External Resources
  29. Aisen E, Shafran A, Gilhar A: Sebum and water content in the skin of aged immobilized patients. Acta Derm Venereol 1997;77:142–143.
    External Resources
  30. Wendling PA, Dell’Acqua G: Skin biophysical properties of a population living in Valais, Switzerland. Skin Res Technol 2003;9:331–338.
    External Resources
  31. Kim MK, Patel RA, Shinn AH, Choi SY, Byun HJ, Huh CH, Park KC, Youn SW: Evaluation of gender difference in skin type and pH. J Dermatol Sci 2006;41:153–156.
    External Resources
  32. Jacobi U, Gautier J, Sterry W, Lademann J: Gender-related differences in the physiology of the stratum corneum. Dermatology 2005;211:312–317.
    External Resources
  33. Ehlers C, Ivens UI, Møller ML, Senderovitz T, Serup J: Females have lower skin surface pH than men: a study on the surface of gender, forearm site variation, right/left difference and time of the day on the skin surface pH. Skin Res Technol 2001;7:90–94.
    External Resources
  34. Williams S, Davids M, Reuther T, Kraus D, Kerscher M: Gender difference of in vivo skin surface pH in the axilla and the effect of a standardized washing procedure with tap water. Skin Pharmacol Physiol 2005;18:247–252.
    External Resources
  35. Diridollou S, de Rigal J, Querleux B, Leroy F, Holloway Barbosa V: Comparative study of the hydration of the stratum corneum between four ethnic groups: influence of age. Int J Dermatol 2007;46(suppl 1):11–14.
    External Resources
  36. Choi EH, Man MQ, Xu P, Xin S, Liu Z, Crumrine DA, Jiang YJ, Fluhr JW, Feingold KR, Elias PM, Mauro TM: Stratum corneum acidification is impaired in moderately aged human and murine skin. J Invest Dermatol 2007;127:2847–2856.
    External Resources
  37. Choi EH, Man MQ, Wang F, Zhang X, Brown BE, Feingold KR, Elias PM: Is endogenous glycerol a determinant of stratum corneum hydration in humans? J Invest Dermatol 2005;125:288–293.
    External Resources
  38. Kuss O, Diepgen TL: Proper statistical analysis of transepidermal water loss (TEWL) measurements in bioengineering studies. Contact Dermatitis 1998;39:64–67.
    External Resources
  39. Fluhr JW, Man MQ, Brown BE, Wertz PW, Crumrine D, Sundberg JP, Feingold KR, Elias PM: Glycerol regulates stratum corneum hydration in sebaceous gland deficient (asebia) mice. J Invest Dermatol 2003;120:728–737.
    External Resources
  40. Zlotogorski A: Distribution of skin surface pH on the forehead and cheek of adults. Arch Dermatol Res 1987;279:398–401.
    External Resources
  41. Fluhr JW, Dickel H, Kuss O, Weyher I, Diepgen TL, Berardesca E: Impact of anatomical location on barrier recovery, surface pH and stratum corneum hydration after acute barrier disruption. Br J Dermatol 2002;146:770–776.
    External Resources
  42. Behne MJ, Meyer JW, Hanson KM, Barry NP, Murata S, Crumrine D, Clegg RW, Gratton E, Holleran WM, Elias PM, Mauro TM: NHE1 regulates the stratum corneum permeability barrier homeostasis: microenvironment acidification assessed with fluorescence lifetime imaging. J Biol Chem 2002;277:47399–47406.
    External Resources
  43. Nouveau S, Bastien P, Baldo F, de Lacharrière O: Effects of topical DHEA on aging skin: a pilot study. Maturitas 2008;59:174–181.
    External Resources
  44. Fritsch M, Orfanos CE, Zouboulis CC: Sebocytes are the key regulators of androgen homeostasis in human skin. J Invest Dermatol 2001;116:793–800.
    External Resources
  45. Giltay EJ, Gooren LJ: Effects of sex steroid deprivation/administration on hair growth and skin sebum production in transsexual males and females. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2000;85:2913–2921.
    External Resources
  46. O’Connell K, Westhoff C: Pharmacology of hormonal contraceptives and acne. Cutis 2008;81(1 suppl):8–12.
  47. Stewart ME, Downing DT, Cook JS, Hansen JR, Strauss JS: Sebaceous gland activity and serum dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate levels in boys and girls. Arch Dermatol 1992;128:1345–1348.
    External Resources
  48. Yamamoto A, Ito M: Sebaceous gland activity and urinary androgen levels in children. J Dermatol Sci 1992;4:98–104.
    External Resources
  49. Sulcová J, Hill M, Hampl R, Stárka L: Age and sex related differences in serum levels of unconjugated dehydroepiandrosterone and its sulphate in normal subjects. J Endocrinol 1997;154:57–62.
    External Resources
  50. Cua AB, Wilhelm KP, Maibach HI: Frictional properties of human skin: relation to age, sex and anatomical region, stratum corneum hydration and transepidermal water loss. Br J Dermatol 1990;123:473–479.
    External Resources
  51. Fluhr JW, Pelosi A, Lazzerini S, Dikstein S, Berardesca E: Differences in corneocyte surface area in pre- and post-menopausal women: assessment with the noninvasive videomicroscopic imaging of corneocytes method (VIC) under basal conditions. Skin Pharmacol Appl Skin Physiol 2001;14(suppl):10–16.
  52. Xin SJ, Liu ZL, Shi YJ, Feingold KR, Elias PM, Man MQ: Study on the sebum content and stratum corneum hydration in the normal Chinese population (in Chinese). J Clin Dermatol 2007;36:131–133.
  53. Ghadially R, Brown BE, Sequeira-Martin SM, Feingold KR, Elias PM: The aged epidermal permeability barrier: structural, functional, and lipid biochemical abnormalities in humans and a senescent murine model. J Clin Invest 1995;95:2281–2290.
    External Resources
  54. Egawa M, Tagami H: Comparison of the depth profiles of water and water-binding substances in the stratum corneum determined in vivo by Raman spectroscopy between the cheek and volar forearm skin: effects of age, seasonal changes and artificial forced hydration. Br J Dermatol 2008;158:251–260.
    External Resources
  55. Kikuchi K, Kobayashi H, Hirao T, Ito A, Takahashi H, Tagami H: Improvement of mild inflammatory changes of the facial skin induced by winter environment with daily applications of a moisturizing cream: a half-side test of biophysical skin parameters, cytokine expression pattern and the formation of cornified envelope. Dermatology 2003;207:269–275.
    External Resources
  56. Hagemann I, Proksch E: Topical treatment by urea reduces epidermal hyperproliferation and induces differentiation in psoriasis. Acta Derm Venereol 1996;76:353–356.
    External Resources
  57. Engelke M, Jensen JM, Ekanayake-Mudiyanselage S, Proksch E: Effects of xerosis and ageing on epidermal proliferation and differentiation. Br J Dermatol 1997;137:219–225.
    External Resources

Article / Publication Details

First-Page Preview
Abstract of Original Paper

Received: December 19, 2008
Accepted: April 14, 2009
Published online: July 31, 2009
Issue release date: September 2009

Number of Print Pages: 10
Number of Figures: 8
Number of Tables: 1

ISSN: 1660-5527 (Print)
eISSN: 1660-5535 (Online)

For additional information: https://www.karger.com/SPP

Copyright / Drug Dosage / Disclaimer

Copyright: All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be translated into other languages, reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, microcopying, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
Drug Dosage: The authors and the publisher have exerted every effort to ensure that drug selection and dosage set forth in this text are in accord with current recommendations and practice at the time of publication. However, in view of ongoing research, changes in government regulations, and the constant flow of information relating to drug therapy and drug reactions, the reader is urged to check the package insert for each drug for any changes in indications and dosage and for added warnings and precautions. This is particularly important when the recommended agent is a new and/or infrequently employed drug.
Disclaimer: The statements, opinions and data contained in this publication are solely those of the individual authors and contributors and not of the publishers and the editor(s). The appearance of advertisements or/and product references in the publication is not a warranty, endorsement, or approval of the products or services advertised or of their effectiveness, quality or safety. The publisher and the editor(s) disclaim responsibility for any injury to persons or property resulting from any ideas, methods, instructions or products referred to in the content or advertisements.

Article Tools
Article Details

2009, Vol.22, No. 4

September 2009

Article

Recommend This
Stay Up to Date Banner Stay Up to Date Banner
TOP