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Fatty Acids and Inflammatory Skin Diseases pp 1–14Cite as

Birkhäuser

Biosynthesis of fatty acids in the skin and their role in epidermal barrier function

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Part of the book series: Progress in Inflammation Research ((PIR))

Abstract

Fatty acids and their derivatives are important cellular structural components and a form of energy storage [1], In the skin extracellular fatty acids are also part of the intercellular stratum corneum lipid layers. These multilamellar lipid bilayers regulate the permeability barrier that prevents excessive water loss and the entry of harmful substances into the skin [2]. Therefore, the epidermal keratinocyte is highly active in synthesis of lipids, including free fatty acids. The synthesis in the skin responds to various pathological conditions, including disturbed permeability barrier function [3]. However, the essential fatty acids, linoleic acid and arachidonic acid, must be aquired from the circulation [4, 5],

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Dermatology, University of Kiel, Schittenhelmstr. 7, D-24105, Kiel, Germany

    Ehrhardt Proksch

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  1. Ehrhardt Proksch
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Dermatology, University of Kiel, Schittenhelmstr. 7, D-24105, Kiel, Germany

    Jens-Michael Schröder

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© 1999 Springer Basel AG

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Proksch, E. (1999). Biosynthesis of fatty acids in the skin and their role in epidermal barrier function. In: Schröder, JM. (eds) Fatty Acids and Inflammatory Skin Diseases. Progress in Inflammation Research. Birkhäuser, Basel. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-0348-8761-8_1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-0348-8761-8_1

  • Publisher Name: Birkhäuser, Basel

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-0348-9762-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-0348-8761-8

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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