Reference values for skin microanatomy: A systematic review and meta-analysis of ex vivo studies Journal Article


Authors: Xu, H.; Fonseca, M.; Wolner, Z.; Chung, E.; Wu, X.; Geller, S.; Dusza, S. W.; DeRosa, A. P.; Marghoob, A. A.; Busam, K. J.; Halpern, A. C.; Marchetti, M. A.
Article Title: Reference values for skin microanatomy: A systematic review and meta-analysis of ex vivo studies
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. © 2017 American Academy of Dermatology, Inc.
Keywords: systematic review; eccrine gland density; epidermal thickness; hair follicle density; melanocyte density; normal-appearing skin
Journal Title: Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology
Volume: 77
Issue: 6
ISSN: 0190-9622
Publisher: Mosby Elsevier  
Date Published: 2017-12-01
Start Page: 1133
End Page: 1144.e4
Language: English
DOI: 10.1016/j.jaad.2017.06.009
PROVIDER: scopus
PMCID: PMC5685878
PUBMED: 28716435
DOI/URL:
Notes: Article -- Export Date: 1 December 2017 -- Source: Scopus
Altmetric
Citation Impact
BMJ Impact Analytics
MSK Authors
  1. Allan C Halpern
    396 Halpern
  2. Stephen Dusza
    288 Dusza
  3. Ashfaq A Marghoob
    534 Marghoob
  4. Klaus J Busam
    688 Busam
  5. Michael Armando Marchetti
    156 Marchetti
  6. Antonio P DeRosa
    35 DeRosa
  7. Maira   Fonseca
    14 Fonseca
  8. Xinyuan   Wu
    9 Wu
  9. Esther Chung
    12 Chung
  10. Haoming Xu
    8 Xu
  11. Shamir Geller
    52 Geller
  12. Zachary Wolner
    14 Wolner