Reference values for skin microanatomy: A systematic review and meta-analysis of ex vivo studies. Review uri icon

Overview

abstract

  • BACKGROUND: Few studies have characterized reference values of normal human skin microanatomy parameters. OBJECTIVE: To quantify histologic measurements of epidermal thickness, melanocyte density, hair follicle density, and eccrine gland density as a function of age and anatomic site. METHOD: We searched the PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane databases for articles published through May 25, 2017. Two reviewers independently screened 2016 articles; 327 relevant articles and 151 additional articles found via forward or reference citations underwent full-text review by 1 of 4 reviewers for relevance, data extraction, and critical appraisal. Weighted averages, meta-analysis, and meta-regression were used in statistical analysis. RESULTS: A total of 56 articles were included; when all anatomic locations were used, the overall estimates for epidermal thickness, melanocyte density, hair follicle density, and eccrine gland density were 99.75 μm (95% confidence interval [CI], 83.25-116.25), 955.05 cells/mm2 (95% CI. 880.89-1029.21), 1.40 hairs/mm2 (95% CI. 0.91-1.89), and 1.28 glands/mm2 (95% CI. 0.91-1.64), respectively. LIMITATIONS: There was significant data heterogeneity across studies, possibly because of differences in histological techniques and absence of standardized microanatomy definitions. CONCLUSIONS: We established summary estimates for normal human skin microanatomy parameters.

publication date

  • July 14, 2017

Research

keywords

  • Skin

Identity

PubMed Central ID

  • PMC5685878

Scopus Document Identifier

  • 85023623152

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

  • 10.1016/j.jaad.2017.06.009

PubMed ID

  • 28716435

Additional Document Info

volume

  • 77

issue

  • 6