Scanning Electron Microscopic Observation of Human Skin Replica

The skin is the largest organ of the integument system whose surface is closely related with many physiological and pathological conditions. Various methods are used to understand the structural and functional status of human skin. We would like to present usefulness of scanning electron microscopic (SEM) observation of skin replica and its significance of training module for a novice. The silicon replicas from several regions of the body (hand, finger, forearm, lip, and face) were casted by applying Exafine$^{(R)}$ mixture. The positive replicas were prepared by applying EPON 812 mixture on negative silicon replicas. Some of the negative silicon replicas were cut with a razor blade and surface profiles were observed. The negative and positive replicas were coated with platinum and were observed under the scanning electron microscope. We could investigate the detailed structures of the human skin surface without any physical damage to the subject. The positive replicas depicted real surface structure of the human skin vividly. The cross sectional view of the negative silicon replicas provided surface profile clearly. The scanning electron microscopic observation of the human skin replicas would be useful to study skin surface structures and to evaluate medical and esthetical applications.