Recent Advances in X-Ray Microanalysis in Dermatology

X-ray microanalysis techniques, including electron and proton microprobes, were used in dermatological research to study the distribution of trace elements in human hair and skin. The study found that elements like calcium, iron, and zinc were unevenly distributed in hair, while sulfur was evenly distributed. In the epidermis, a gradient of sodium, phosphorus, and potassium was observed, which was less steep in freeze-substituted skin due to reduced water content. The analysis also explored the distribution of nickel and chromium in the epidermis and found no significant differences in water content between the stratum corneum of atopic eczema patients and normal skin. Increased levels of phosphorus and potassium were linked to proliferative reactions in the epidermis, as seen in guinea-pig skin exposed to sodium lauryl sulfate and in psoriasis plaques.