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• n  the outermost layer of the epidermis consisting of dead cells that slough off

• Below the skin's outermost horny layer, or stratum corneum (see diagram), lies a germinative layer where, on exposure to sunlight, the pigment-producing cells are stimulated to .

• stratum corneum
• horny layer

Quotes

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• Robert Greenberg in New York Times
  These ceramides help bind the stratum corneum and keep the barrier from breaking down,said Dr. Robert Greenberg, a dermatologist in Vernon Rockville, Conn.