ABSTRACT
The outermost skin layer, the stratum corneum (SC), consists of corneocytes embedded in lipid layers and represents the main barrier for skin penetration of xenobiotics. Its thickness in healthy adults may vary from 5 to 20 µm, except in the palm and sole where it is much thicker. SC can be removed sequentially by repeated application of appropriate adhesive tapes.1 This technique, commonly known as “SC tape stripping,” is a relatively noninvasive method to investigate the structure, properties, and functions of SC in vivo2 and is the most frequently used for such purposes. Other techniques to remove SC are skin surface biopsy using cyanoacrylate strips and skin scraping.
