Corneocytes are polyhedral, anucleated cells without cytoplasmic organelles, interlocked with each other and organized as vertical columns of 10-30 cells and embedded within a highly hydrophobic lipid matrix to form the stratum corneum.
The corneocyte cell layer (stratum corneum) can absorb three times its weight in water but if its water content drops below 10% it no longer remains pliable and cracks [REF].