during the last decade, an increased interest in somatic stem cells has led to a flurry of research on one of the most accessible tissues of the body: skin. much effort has focused on such topics as understanding the heterogeneity of stem cell pools within the epidermis and dermis, and their comparative utility in regenerative medicine applications. in skin stem cells: methods and protocols, expert researchers in the field detail many of the methods which are now commonly used to study skin stem cells. these include methods and techniques for the isolation, maintenance and characterization of stem cell populations from skin. written in the highly successful methods in molecular biologytm series format, chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible laboratory protocols, and key tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. authoritative and practical, skin stem cells: methods and protocols seeks to aid scientists in the further understanding of these diverse cell types and the translation of their biological potential to the in vivo setting.