The skin thickness of Koreans was studied using 452 biopsy samples of normal skin of various regions of the body. Dermatome tape was applied on the skin before skin biopsy was taken, in an effort to prevent shrinkage. Histological slides of the skin were prepared by the ordinary tissue processes.
The thickness of the skin was measured under microscopes with micrometer. At least ten measurements of both the epidermis and the dermis were made in each case. The results statistically analysed were summarized as follows:
1. The values of the combined thickness of the epidermis and the dermis varied from 500 to 2,000 micrometers: the eyelid, the prepuce, the inguinal and postauricular regions were the thinnest areas (500-750μm); the neck, the chest, the abdomen, the palm and the sole were fairly thick (1,300-1,500μm); the back and the buttock were thickest (1,700-2,000μm); most of the other areas had the thickness of 850-1,200 micrometers.
2. THe thickness of the epidermis varied from 30 to 650 micrometers: the prepuce, the eyelid, the supraclavicular and postauricular regions and the axilla were thinnest (30-70um); the buttock, the dorsum of the hand and foot were relatively thick(140-190um); the palm and sole were thickest(600-650um); most of the other areas had the thickness of 80-120 micrometers.
3. The contribution of the dermis to the whole skin thickness was 90-96% in most regions, except the palm and the sole (55-60%).
4. The thickness of the epidermis and the dermis varied with sex and age: several regions were significantly thicker in male than in female, thicker in the younger than in the older except the buttock and the back which were significantly thinner in the younger than in the older.
5. The values of the combined thickness of the epidermis and the dermis were identical in general with those of the white race, but epidermis was markedly thicker in Koreans than in the white race.
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