[Physiological analysis of the facial skin by corneocyte morphology and stratum corneum turnover].

In order to clarify the properties of facial skin, we measured corneocyte size and stratum corneum turnover rate on the face of healthy female volunteers in relation to age and compared the data with those from the flexor surface of the forearm. The corneocyte size on the face was found to be significantly smaller and the percentage of nucleated corneocytes was distinctly higher than those on the forearm. Stratum corneum turnover rate on the face was also approximately two times faster than on the forearm. The corneocyte size increased with aging on the forearm, but not on the face. Additionally, turnover rate decreased with aging on the forearm, but not on the face. These findings suggest that the facial skin is apparently influenced by some exogenous or endogenous factors which seem to overcome the influence of intrinsic aging effects.