Figure 1

Schematic representation of the alteration of structure formation and interaction of desmosomes dependent on the concentration of Ca ions. Each desmosome in SC that is composed of five domains is represented by five repeated rectangles and Ca ions and corneocytes are represented as green circles and yellow ovals, respectively. A decrease in Ca ions in SC layer makes desmosomes to lose their cis-dimerization and trans-interaction, and weakens the adhesion of adjacent corneocytes causing SC exfoliation.