---
title: "Epidermal cohesion"
description: "Assess epidermal cohesion and tissue integrity."
image: "https://cosmetic-labs.com/wp-content/uploads/epidermal-cohesion-service-1200x1200-1.webp"
---
# Epidermal cohesion

> Assess epidermal cohesion and tissue integrity.

Source: https://cosmetic-labs.com/services/clinical/efficacy/hydration-barrier-testing/skin-barrier-hydration/epidermal-cohesion
Created: 2025-07-05T12:31:26+00:00
Modified: 2026-10-25T10:43:15+00:00
Author: Emilie SCHOL

Epidermal cohesion | Cosmetic Labs

## What is Epidermal cohesion?

Epidermal cohesion testing evaluates how ingredients affect adhesion and integrity in epidermal tissue, particularly the stratum corneum. Cohesion, shedding, and barrier measurements help characterize responses relevant to skin barrier support.

### Why do you need this service?
Cohesion studies compare epidermal adhesion, tissue integrity and shedding-related responses. They help investigate barrier mechanisms while keeping cohesion distinct from hydration, water loss and human tolerance.

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Definition
## Epidermal cohesion
Cohesion reflects how epidermal cells remain connected while the outer layers undergo controlled shedding. This service investigates changes in adhesion and tissue integrity, which are related to but not interchangeable with hydration or lipid organization.

### Assessing cohesion
Suitable epidermal or ex vivo tissue models can be compared before and after treatment. Controlled tape stripping may assess removal of corneocytes, provided pressure, contact time, and sampling are standardized.

Material removed over successive strips
- Corneocyte attachment and shedding-related measurements
- Adhesion-related proteins or corneodesmosome features where appropriate
- Tissue morphology and viability

### Barrier and renewal context
Permeability or water-loss measurements can provide functional context, but do not directly measure intercellular adhesion. Stronger cohesion is not universally better because balanced desquamation is necessary for normal skin function. Reports should distinguish structural cohesion, lipid changes, and barrier recovery rather than combine them into an unsupported single integrity score. Volunteer tape-stripping and hydration studies are separate clinical extensions.

Applications
## Assessing epidermal integrity
Suitable tissue models can compare adhesion-related proteins, corneodesmosomal features and controlled removal of corneocytes. Tape stripping requires consistent tape, pressure, contact and collection conditions. Material removed over successive strips can inform a cohesion assessment within that design.

Hydration, permeability and water-loss measurements provide complementary context, not direct equivalents of intercellular adhesion. Stronger cohesion is not always desirable because normal skin depends on balanced shedding.

Use the findings for ingredient comparison and planning of further studies. Volunteer hydration or sensitive-skin tolerance work is a separate scope requiring appropriate safety and ethical review. A preclinical cohesion result does not demonstrate non-irritating moisturisation or a predetermined barrier-repair effect.

ExplorationLearn more about Barrier & Hydration MechanismsInvestigate barrier and hydration mechanisms through epidermal lipids, junction proteins, differentiation and water-handling responses in skin models. Explore another Barrier & Hydration Mechanisms page on cosmetic-labs.com.

#### [Skin barrier function efficacy testing](https://cosmetic-labs.com/services/clinical/efficacy/hydration-barrier-testing/skin-barrier-hydration/barrier-function)
Preclinical skin barrier testing can use Raman microspectroscopy to assess lipid packing in reconstructed human epidermis models. [Check this service](https://cosmetic-labs.com/services/clinical/efficacy/hydration-barrier-testing/skin-barrier-hydration/barrier-function)
#### [Keratinocyte differentiation](https://cosmetic-labs.com/services/clinical/efficacy/hydration-barrier-testing/skin-barrier-hydration/epidermal-diff)
Assess epidermal cell maturation and barrier formation using histology, differentiation markers and functional measurements in suitable skin models. [Check this service](https://cosmetic-labs.com/services/clinical/efficacy/hydration-barrier-testing/skin-barrier-hydration/epidermal-diff)
#### [Calcium gradient maintenance](https://cosmetic-labs.com/services/clinical/efficacy/hydration-barrier-testing/skin-barrier-hydration/calcium-gradient)
Investigate epidermal calcium distribution using layer-resolved tissue measurements, with cellular imaging addressing related calcium-signalling responses. [Check this service](https://cosmetic-labs.com/services/clinical/efficacy/hydration-barrier-testing/skin-barrier-hydration/calcium-gradient)
#### [Filaggrin production](https://cosmetic-labs.com/services/clinical/efficacy/hydration-barrier-testing/skin-barrier-hydration/filaggrin)
Investigate ingredient effects on filaggrin through gene, protein and breakdown-product analysis in epidermal models relevant to skin hydration. [Check this service](https://cosmetic-labs.com/services/clinical/efficacy/hydration-barrier-testing/skin-barrier-hydration/filaggrin)
#### [Tight-junction proteins](https://cosmetic-labs.com/services/clinical/efficacy/hydration-barrier-testing/skin-barrier-hydration/tight-junction)
Assess tight-junction proteins such as claudin-1, occludin and ZO-1 in epidermal models alongside functional measurements of junction integrity. [Check this service](https://cosmetic-labs.com/services/clinical/efficacy/hydration-barrier-testing/skin-barrier-hydration/tight-junction)
#### [Ceramide Synthesis Mechanisms](https://cosmetic-labs.com/services/clinical/efficacy/hydration-barrier-testing/skin-barrier-hydration/ceramide-synthesis)
Assess ceramide production in epidermal models using lipid profiling and biosynthesis measurements, distinguishing lipid abundance from synthesis rate. [Check this service](https://cosmetic-labs.com/services/clinical/efficacy/hydration-barrier-testing/skin-barrier-hydration/ceramide-synthesis)
#### [Ceramide Synthesis in Epidermal Models](https://cosmetic-labs.com/services/clinical/efficacy/hydration-barrier-testing/skin-barrier-hydration/ceramide)
Investigate ceramide production in epidermal cells or tissue models using lipid profiling and pathway measurements, separately from surface deposition. [Check this service](https://cosmetic-labs.com/services/clinical/efficacy/hydration-barrier-testing/skin-barrier-hydration/ceramide)
#### [Intercellular lipid order](https://cosmetic-labs.com/services/clinical/efficacy/hydration-barrier-testing/skin-barrier-hydration/lipid-organization)
Assess stratum corneum lipid packing and lamellar organisation with structural methods, complementing lipid composition and permeability measurements. [Check this service](https://cosmetic-labs.com/services/clinical/efficacy/hydration-barrier-testing/skin-barrier-hydration/lipid-organization)
#### [Lamellar lipid reinforcement](https://cosmetic-labs.com/services/clinical/efficacy/hydration-barrier-testing/skin-barrier-hydration/lipid-barrier)
Assess intercellular lipid-layer organisation in the stratum corneum using structural and functional measurements relevant to hydration mechanisms. [Check this service](https://cosmetic-labs.com/services/clinical/efficacy/hydration-barrier-testing/skin-barrier-hydration/lipid-barrier)
#### [Corneodesmosome regulation](https://cosmetic-labs.com/services/clinical/efficacy/hydration-barrier-testing/skin-barrier-hydration/corneodesmosome)
Investigate corneodesmosome regulation through junction proteins, protease activity and cohesion measurements relevant to barrier integrity and shedding. [Check this service](https://cosmetic-labs.com/services/clinical/efficacy/hydration-barrier-testing/skin-barrier-hydration/corneodesmosome)
#### [Proteases inhibition](https://cosmetic-labs.com/services/clinical/efficacy/hydration-barrier-testing/skin-barrier-hydration/proteases)
Measure ingredient effects on epidermal proteases, including kallikreins, and follow up in skin models to investigate balanced desquamation mechanisms. [Check this service](https://cosmetic-labs.com/services/clinical/efficacy/hydration-barrier-testing/skin-barrier-hydration/proteases)
#### [Hydration efficacy testing](https://cosmetic-labs.com/services/clinical/efficacy/hydration-barrier-testing/skin-barrier-hydration/hydration)
Investigate hydration mechanisms through water-channel expression, humectant production, lipid synthesis and epidermal integrity in suitable models. [Check this service](https://cosmetic-labs.com/services/clinical/efficacy/hydration-barrier-testing/skin-barrier-hydration/hydration)
#### [Hyaluronic acid synthesis](https://cosmetic-labs.com/services/clinical/efficacy/hydration-barrier-testing/skin-barrier-hydration/hyaluronic)
Investigate endogenous hyaluronic acid production in skin cells using quantification and synthase-related measurements, accounting for added material. [Check this service](https://cosmetic-labs.com/services/clinical/efficacy/hydration-barrier-testing/skin-barrier-hydration/hyaluronic)
#### [Aquaporin expression](https://cosmetic-labs.com/services/clinical/efficacy/hydration-barrier-testing/skin-barrier-hydration/aquaporin)
Measure aquaporin expression, including AQP3 in keratinocytes, to investigate water-channel responses rather than directly measuring skin hydration. [Check this service](https://cosmetic-labs.com/services/clinical/efficacy/hydration-barrier-testing/skin-barrier-hydration/aquaporin)
#### [NMF production](https://cosmetic-labs.com/services/clinical/efficacy/hydration-barrier-testing/skin-barrier-hydration/nmf)
Assess natural moisturising factor components in epidermal models, distinguishing endogenous formation from compounds deposited by a formulation. [Check this service](https://cosmetic-labs.com/services/clinical/efficacy/hydration-barrier-testing/skin-barrier-hydration/nmf)

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---

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