PI-WIKI-ANA-34 · Applied Anatomy · reviewed 2026-10-31
Skin Histology and Dermal Depth Control
Critical numbers
Stratum corneum, dorsal forearm18.3 um (SD 4.9), histological measurement [2]
Stratum corneum, shoulder11.0 um (SD 2.2) [2]
Stratum corneum, buttock14.9 um (SD 3.4) [2]
Cellular epidermis, forearm / shoulder / buttock56.6 / 70.3 / 81.5 um (SD 11.5 / 13.6 / 15.7) [2]
Total skin thickness, suprascapular2.54 mm mean, 20 MHz ultrasound, n=342 [3]
Total skin thickness, deltoid2.02 mm mean [3]
Total skin thickness, waist1.91 mm mean [3]
Total skin thickness, thigh1.55 mm mean [3]
Needle length that reaches the dermis (authors' conclusion)1.5 mm perpendicular, regardless of sex, age, ethnicity and BMI [3]
Epidermal thickness vs ageNo correlation found [2]
Epidermal thickness vs skin typeNo correlation found [2]
Sex difference in cellular epidermisSignificantly greater in males than females [2]
Do not
- Working to one fixed depth across body sites
- Adjusting technique for the client's age on the assumption that the epidermis…
- Adjusting for skin type on the same assumption. Epidermal thickness showed no…
- Quoting a one per cent per year collagen loss figure to clients. The 1975…
- Using Fitzpatrick type to set needle depth. It is a phototherapy dosing scale
- Assuming the epidermis is pigment-free once a tattoo is healed. Pigment was…
Applicable standards
- EU / UK — EN 17169:2020 Tattooing
- United States — Bloodborne pathogen training is the near-universal federal-facing requirement
- Asia-Pacific: Australia — NSW Health's body art guidance places the obligation on the practitioner…