Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 5, 2026

12:23
Granulocyte-dependent Autoantibody-induced Skin Blistering
Published on: October 12, 2012
Acral Peeling Skin Syndrome: More than a Rare Genodermatosis Affecting Not Only the Skin
Aleksandra Kuźniak-Jodłowska1,2, Jakub Szewczyk3, Magdalena Jałowska1
1Department of Dermatology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Przybyszewskiego 49, 60-356 Poznan, Poland.
Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania)
|July 28, 2026
Summary
Atomic force microscopy revealed nanoscale differences in hair cuticle morphology in children with Acral Peeling Skin Syndrome (APSS). This study provides foundational data on APSS hair shaft characteristics.
Area of Science:
- Dermatology
- Genetics
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Acral Peeling Skin Syndrome (APSS) is a rare genodermatosis.
- Hair abnormalities in APSS are not well-documented, especially in pediatric cases.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize hair shaft morphology in pediatric APSS patients using atomic force microscopy (AFM).
- To investigate age-related differences in hair morphology in APSS.
Main Methods:
- Collected hair samples from two pediatric APSS patients and age-matched controls.
- Analyzed hair cuticle morphology using AFM at nanoscale resolution.
- Quantified cuticle scale dimensions and deviations.
Main Results:
- Identified distinct nanoscale differences in hair cuticle morphology in APSS patients compared to controls.
- Observed variations in cuticle scale step height, length, and width.
Conclusions:
- This is the first AFM characterization of hair shaft morphology in pediatric APSS.
- Findings establish a basis for further research into APSS hair abnormalities.
Related Concept Videos
Skin Diseases and Disorders
Skin is the first line of defense and encounters a variety of microbes. Some pathogenic strains are often the cause of a broad range of infections of the skin and other body systems. These conditions can affect people of all ages and may have different causes, including genetic factors, infections, autoimmune reactions, environmental factors, and lifestyle choices.
Gram-positive Staphylococcus spp. and Streptococcus spp. are responsible for many of the most common skin infections. However, many...
Gram-positive Staphylococcus spp. and Streptococcus spp. are responsible for many of the most common skin infections. However, many...
Pleiotropy
Pleiotropy is the phenomenon in which a single gene impacts multiple, seemingly unrelated phenotypic traits. For example, defects in the SOX10 gene cause Waardenburg Syndrome Type 4, or WS4, which can cause defects in pigmentation, hearing impairments, and an absence of intestinal contractions necessary for elimination. This diversity of phenotypes results from the expression pattern of SOX10 in early embryonic and fetal development. SOX10 is found in neural crest cells that form melanocytes,...
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...
Skin Cancer
Skin cancer is a type of cancer that occurs when there is an abnormal growth of skin cells, usually triggered by damage to the DNA within the skin cells. It is primarily caused by exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun or artificial sources like tanning beds. Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer worldwide, and its incidence continues to rise.
Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC): BCC is the most common type of skin cancer, accounting for about 80% of cases. It typically develops in...
Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC): BCC is the most common type of skin cancer, accounting for about 80% of cases. It typically develops in...
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,...
Pigmentation
The color of the skin is influenced by a number of pigments, including melanin, carotene, and hemoglobin. Recall that melanin is produced by cells called melanocytes, which are found scattered throughout the stratum basale of the epidermis. The melanin is transferred to the keratinocytes via melanosomes.
Melanin occurs in two primary forms: eumelanin that provides black and brown pigment and pheomelanin that provides red color. Dark-skinned individuals produce more melanin than those with pale...
Melanin occurs in two primary forms: eumelanin that provides black and brown pigment and pheomelanin that provides red color. Dark-skinned individuals produce more melanin than those with pale...