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Handbook of Occupational Dermatology pp 56–63Cite as

The Structure of the Human Skin Barrier

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Abstract

Dermal exposure becomes a risk, eventually causing injury and damage, when the stratum corneum is insufficient to protect the viable epidermis, the dermis and the body from noxious agents. Although we may be prone to regard the integument as a barrier against a hostile environment, it must be remembered that the most important task for human skin is to create a watertight enclosure of the body to prevent water loss. Body-water homeostasis is a strict requirement for normal physiological function, as uncontrolled loss of water will result in a drastic increase in salt concentrations, with consequent harmful effects on the physiology of cells and tissues.

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Authors
  1. B. Forslind
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Section of Dermatology, Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, Topeliuksenkatu 41 aA, 00250, Helsinki, Finland

    Lasse Kanerva M.D., Ph.D.

  2. Department of Occupational Dermatology, Karolinska Hospital, 117 76, Stockholm, Sweden

    Jan E. Wahlberg M.D., Ph.D.

  3. National Institute for Working Life, 117 76, Stockholm, Sweden

    Jan E. Wahlberg M.D., Ph.D.

  4. Klinik für Hautkrankheiten, Klinikum der FSU Jena, Erfurter Straße 35, 07740, Jena, Germany

    P. Elsner

  5. School of Medicine, University of California, Box 0989, Surge 100, 94143-0989, CA, San Francisco, USA

    Howard I. Maibach M.D.

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© 2000 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

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Forslind, B. (2000). The Structure of the Human Skin Barrier. In: Kanerva, L., Wahlberg, J.E., Elsner, P., Maibach, H.I. (eds) Handbook of Occupational Dermatology. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-07677-4_6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-07677-4_6

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-662-07679-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-662-07677-4

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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