Measurement of Epidermis, Dermis, and Total Skin Thicknesses from Six Different Face Regions

Aim: The aim of this study was to map the skin thickness by determining the epidermis, dermis and total skin thickness of six dif ferent regions of the face.

Patients and Methods: Samples containing 9-10 mm of healthy tissue from the facial skin, scalp, forehead, cheek, ear, nose and lip regions of 90 female and 90 male patients aged between 30 and 80 years were retrospectively included in the study, and epidermis and dermis thicknesses examined with a micrometer under a light microscope.

Results: Epidermis thicknesses of 6 facial regions of 90 female participants included in the study were between 65.91±14.44 μm and 120.91±44.74 μm, dermis thicknesses were between 1150±217.43 μm and 1498.33±388.56 μm, and total skin thicknesses were between 1234.83±217.6 μm and 1599.33±492.2 μm. Epidermis thicknesses of 6 facial regions of 90 male participants included in the study were between 79.08±13.88 μm and 122.75±32.5 μm, dermis thicknesses were between 1106.66±389.82 μm and 1942.5±464.06 μm, and total skin thicknesses were between 1756± 503.75 μm and 2022.5±460.24 μm.

Conclusion: In the female patients, the thinnest epidermis was measured on the scalp and the thinnest epidermis in the male patients was measured on the cheek. The thickest epidermis was on the upper lip in the male and female patients. However, the regions with the thinnest and thickest dermis thicknesses differed according to gender. In further studies, a full map of facial skin thickness can be obtained by dividing the face into more subunits using more multicentre, multiethnic materials.