Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 23, 2026

Cultivating a Three-dimensional Reconstructed Human Epidermis at a Large Scale
08:49

Cultivating a Three-dimensional Reconstructed Human Epidermis at a Large Scale

Published on: May 28, 2021

Pathophysiologic basis for growth failure in children with ichthyosis: an evaluation of cutaneous ultrastructure,

David G Moskowitz1, Ashley J Fowler, Melvin B Heyman

  • 1Department of Dermatolog, University of California San Francisco, and the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, San Francisco, 94143, USA.

The Journal of Pediatrics
|July 9, 2004
PubMed

Insights

Children with ichthyosis experience significant transepidermal water loss (TEWL), leading to substantial caloric deficits. This barrier dysfunction contributes to impaired growth by increasing energy expenditure and heat loss.

Area of Science:

  • Dermatology
  • Pediatrics
  • Human Physiology

Background:

  • Ichthyosis is characterized by impaired epidermal permeability barrier function.
  • This barrier defect can lead to excessive transepidermal water loss (TEWL).

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the impact of epidermal barrier failure on caloric requirements in children with ichthyosis and growth failure.
  • To quantify the contribution of barrier dysfunction to energy expenditure and nutrient loss.

Main Methods:

  • Evaluated transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and barrier ultrastructure in 10 hospitalized children with ichthyosis.
  • Measured nutritional intake, resting energy expenditure, and evaporative heat loss.

Main Results:

  • Patients exhibited markedly elevated mean basal TEWL rates compared to normal.
  • Increased TEWL resulted in significant daily caloric loss through heat of evaporation.
  • Resting energy expenditure exceeded predictions in most patients and correlated with TEWL severity.

Conclusions:

  • Defective epidermal permeability barrier in ichthyosis leads to chronic water and calorie losses.
  • These losses can significantly impair growth in affected children.
Abstract

More Related Videos

Generation of Genetically Modified Organotypic Skin Cultures Using Devitalized Human Dermis09:16

Generation of Genetically Modified Organotypic Skin Cultures Using Devitalized Human Dermis

Published on: December 14, 2015

Related Concept Videos

Renewal of Skin Epidermal Stem Cells01:12

Renewal of Skin Epidermal Stem Cells

The skin is divided into epidermis, dermis, and hypodermis, the skin's outermost, middle, and inner layers. The human epidermal layer regularly undergoes renewal, where old, dead cells are replaced by new cells. Epidermal stem cells or EpiSCs divide and differentiate to restore the lost cells. For the renewal process, some EpiSCs continuously self-renew. In contrast, few others differentiate into transit-amplifying cells, which later form prickle or spinous cells, followed by granular cells,...
Clinical Applications of Epidermal Stem Cells01:19

Clinical Applications of Epidermal Stem Cells

Epidermal stem cells (EpiSCs) are mainly located at the basal layer of the epidermis. These cells repair minor injuries of the skin and replace dead skin cells. However, EpiSCs’ cannot heal severe wounds such as major burns or those from diabetes or hereditary disorders. In such cases, culturing the epidermal stem cells from the patient is possible and has yielded successful treatment options, such as laboratory-grown skin grafts. These grafts are synthesized using a patient’s own EpiSCs...
Cells of the Epidermis01:24

Cells of the Epidermis

The epidermis is made of four or five layers of epithelial cells, depending on its location in the body. From deep to superficial, these layers are the stratum basale, stratum spinosum, stratum granulosum, stratum lucidum, and stratum corneum.
The cells in all these layers except the stratum basale are called keratinocytes, a type of cell that manufactures and stores the protein keratin. The keratinocytes in the stratum corneum are dead and regularly slough away, being replaced by cells from...
Layers of the Epidermis01:21

Layers of the Epidermis

The epidermis, the outermost layer of the skin, is composed of several distinct layers. From deep to superficial, the layers of the epidermis are as follows:
Stratum Basale
Stratum basale, also known as the stratum germinativum, is the deepest layer of the epidermis. It is composed of a single layer of actively dividing cells called basal cells or basal keratinocytes. These cells constantly undergo cell division to replenish the upper layers of the epidermis. Additionally, melanocytes, which...
Papillary Dermis01:11

Papillary Dermis

Dermis
The dermis might be considered the "core" of the integumentary system, as distinct from the epidermis and hypodermis. It contains blood and lymph vessels, nerves, and other structures, such as hair follicles and sweat glands. The dermis is made of two layers of connective tissue that comprise an interconnected mesh of elastin and collagenous fibers, produced by fibroblasts.
Papillary Layer
The papillary layer is made of loose, areolar connective tissue, which means the collagen and...
Healing II: Complications01:24

Healing II: Complications

Complications during healing arise when tissue repair is altered by local or systemic factors. These changes involve abnormal collagen deposition, altered biomechanics, and reduced vascular supply, impairing restoration of normal structure and function.Loss of FunctionScar tissue differs significantly from the original tissue it replaces. In the skin, fibrosis lacks adnexal structures such as hair follicles, sebaceous glands, and sweat glands. Their absence reduces tactile sensitivity, impairs...