Ageing and photoageing of keratinocytes and melanocytes

An overview of keratinocyte and melanocyte function is provided. The proces ses of cutaneous ageing and photoageing are defined, and age-associated mod ulations in gene expression are described. The changes in keratinocytes and melanocytes that occur with skin ageing and photoageing and the characteri stics of chronologically aged vs. photoaged skin are delineated. Mutations that are found in malignant and premalignant tumors of epidermal origin are described.