The skin barrier: analysis of physiologically important elements and traceelements

Changes in the properties of the skin barrier should have correlates in the physiological status of the differentiating epidermal cells. However, the quantitative distributions of physiologically important elements and trace elements of the skin has been a neglected area of research for lack of tool s to investigate this highly differentiated tissue. With the event of the p article probes, the electron microprobe and the scanning proton microprobe, it has become possible to investigate different aspects of normal skin phy siology as well as pathophysiological processes. In addition penetration pr ofils of allergenic metals can be demonstrated with the trace element sensi tive proton probe. Future approaches to the study of skin physiology in nor mal and pathological conditions should incorporate other techniques includi ng immunological and biochemical tagging of particular cells to achieve a b road basis for interpretations of data.