Mitsuhiro Denda
Shiseido Research Center, 2-12-1 Fukuura, Kanazawa-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa 236-8643, Japan
E-mail: mitsuhiro.denda@to.shiseido.co.jp
(Received April 19, 2000; Accepted May 19, 2000)
Keywords: Sensor, Environment, Self-Referential, Ion
Abstract. Skin Barrier function which protects internal organs from the environment resides in the uppermost thin heterogeneous layer, called stratum corneum. The stratum corneum is composed of dead protein-rich cells and intercellular lipid domains. This two-compartment structure is renewed continuously and when the barrier function is damaged, it is repaired immediately. Under low humidity, the stratum corneum becomes thick, the lipid content in the stratum corneum increases and water impermeability is enhanced. The heterogeneous field in the epidermis induced by ions, such as calcium and potassium regulates the self-referential, self-organizing system to protect the living organism.