Stratum Corneum Anatomy - The Key to Healthy, Attractive Skin

From Heather Brannon, MD, former About.com Guide

Updated November 04, 2009

About.com Health's Disease and Condition content is reviewed by the Medical Review Board

Attached to the cell envelope is a layer of ceramide lipids that repel water. Because the lamellar lipid bilayer also repels water, water molecules are held between the cell envelope lipids and the lipid bilayer. This helps maintain the water balance in the stratum corneum by trapping water molecules instead of letting them absorb into the lower layers of the epidermis.

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• Stratum Corneum Anatomy - The Key to Healthy, Attractive Skin
• Stratum Corneum Anatomy - The Corneocyte
• Stratum Corneum Anatomy - Lamellar Bodies
• Stratum Corneum Anatomy - Intercellular Lipids
• Stratum Corneum Anatomy - Cornified Envelope
• Stratum Corneum Anatomy - Cornified Envelope Lipids
• Stratum Corneum Anatomy - Corneodesmosomes
• Stratum Corneum Anatomy - Natural Moisturizing Factor (NMF)
• Stratum Corneum Anatomy - Desquamation Process

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