Mechanical stiffness across skin layers in human: a pilot study

Mechanobiological forces play a pivotal role in the processes of skin homeostasis, wound healing and regeneration. Changes in tissue stiffness are linked to various skin diseases. Using atomic force microscopy, we analyzed the elastic modulus, representing mechanical stiffness, of different skin layers in a group of six participants, including 2 males and 4 females, aged between 1 and 70 years. The skin layers, ranked from highest to lowest elastic modulus, are the epidermis, papillary dermis, upper reticular dermis, lower reticular dermis, sebaceous gland, and subcutaneous tissue. This study contributes to more understanding of the physical properties of the skin, offering a reference for further research on skin physiology or pathology.