Zinc in epidermis and dermis in healthy subjects

Thin tangential skin biopsies were obtained from 40 healthy subjects by a shaving technique. The zinc content in these samples was determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The mean concentration of zinc in epidermis was about 60 micrograms/g and in upper dermis 40 micrograms/g dry weight. The concentration was much higher in the upper than in the lower layer of dermis. There was no correlation between the tissue and serum concentration of zinc. Full awareness of the great risk for contamination is essential and special precautions are mandatory if reproducible results are to be obtained.