Course Overview

This Advanced Skin Science course will cover topics in skin biochemistry, biophysics, and molecular biology. It is assumed that the student will already have basic knowledge of biochemistry, as well as skin structure, function, and physiology. It is designed to bring the Skin Care Scientist up to date on skin research of importance to the cosmetics industry.

This course will include major sections on the Epidermis, Stratum Corneum (SC), Skin Lipids, Skin Pigmentation, Skin Aging and Photo-Aging, and Skin pH.

Course Outline

Advanced Topics on the Epidermis and Stratum Corneum 

The Dermis – and Skin Appendages

• The papillary and reticular dermis

The Epidermis

• The dermal epidermal junction
• Stem cells and cell renewal in the epidermis, how does it work?
• Epidermal Keratins structural details and disorders
• Desmosomes in the epidermis
• Tight Junctions in the epidermis

The Stratum Corneum (SC) Barrier

• Keratins and filament formation
• Structure and formation of the cornified cell envelope
• Filaggrin hydrolysis and natural moisturizing factors
• SC pro barrier and lipids
• SC desmosomes and the complex proteolytic cascade in the SC
• Barrier repair and homeostasis 
• The antimicrobial barrier of the Stratum Corneum

Recent Advances in our Understanding of Skin Lipids

• Sebaceous lipids – positives and negatives
• Sebaceous lipids vs stratum corneum integral lipids
• Recent advances in our understanding SC lipid ultra-structure
• In-vivo ATR methodology for probing SC lipid structure
• Review of technologies for maintaining 

Skin Pigmentation 

• Melanocytes and melanin disorders
• Melanosome synthesis and translocation, 
• Constitutive and facultative pigmentation
• Genetic and other Factors Determining Skin Color

Skin Aging and Photo-Aging 

• Aging of the Epidermis and Stratum Corneum
• The dermal matrix and Intrinsic aging
• Acute effects of sun on skin
• Reactive oxygen species
• The MAP Kinase pathway and MMPs
• Photoaging in histology
• Photoaging in Appearance

Skin pH and Its Role Maintaining Superior SC Barrier

• Acid-mantle and its origin
• Is skin pH an indicator of skin health? 
• Factors that can affect skin’s natural pH
• Skin pH vs product pH – relevance to skin care 
• Skin pH vs product pH – relevance to skin cleansing

Instructors: K.P. Ananth, PhD & R. Randall Wickett, PhD

Format: On-demand with Live Q&A

Course Access Begins: 
Monday, October 7, 2024

Live Q&A Date: 
Monday, October 28, 2024 (11:00am-12:30pm ET)

Originally Recorded:
April 2024

Note: in addition to the online instruction and live Q&A, Certificate in Skin Care participants who select this course will also receive a PDF copy of the course slides. Course replay recordings will be available from the course access date through the end of the certificate program.
  

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If also applying for SCC membership, please allow up to five business days for application processing. Member pricing will not be in effect for Certificate Program enrollment until after the membership application is approved. 

About the Instructors

K.P. Ananth, PhD

University of Cincinnati

Dr. Kavssery P. Ananthapadmanabhan (K.P. Ananth) is a professor and the director of the Cosmetic Science Program at the College of Pharmacy at University of Cincinnati. Ananth obtained his B. Tech from Indian Institute of Technology in Mumbai in 1974. He obtained his MS and D. Eng. Sci. degrees in 1976 and 1980 respectively from Columbia University in New York, specializing in surfactants and colloids. Ananth spent 3 years as a post-doctoral fellow and adjunct faculty at Columbia University and then joined Union Carbide Corporation, at their Surface Chemistry Skill Center in Tarrytown, New York. In 1990, Ananth moved to Unilever R & D, initially in Edgewater, NJ and then in Trumbull CT and spent the next 26+ years in various capacities in the personal care area including leading their longer-term skin cleansing research. He is an author/co-author in 120+ publications and 35+ patents. He also co-edited a book titled, “Interactions of surfactants with polymers and proteins: with Des Goddard. Career achievements include Unilever's Lifetime Achievement Award for Contributions to Science in 2016. After retiring from Unilever in 2016, Ananth joined the College of Pharmacy as a professor and director of their Cosmetic Science program.

R. Randall Wickett, PhD

University of Cincinnati

Dr. Wickett holds a Ph.D. in Biophysics from Oregon State University. During his industrial career he worked at Procter and Gamble and the SC Johnson Company performing research on skin and hair care products at both companies. Since 1991 he has been at University of Cincinnati and is now Emeritus Professor of Cosmetic Science in the James L. Winkle College of Pharmacy. He has had an extensive consulting practice for more than 25 years. Dr. Wickett has authored more than 120 scientific publications and several patents and given more than 100 invited presentations. He is a Fellow of the Society of Cosmetic Chemists (SCC) and has received numerous technical awards from the SCC including the Maison G. de Navarre Medal Award, the SCC’s highest honor for technical achievement. He was editor of the Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Chemists from 1991 to 1997, chairman of the International Society for Bioengineering and the Skin from.2000-2005, is past President of the SCC (2011) and is currently chairman of the International Society for Stratum Corneum Research.