rs11640236: Skin Hydration and Corneal Moisture
The genetic variant rs11640236 is an intergenic single nucleotide polymorphism identified in genome-wide association studies of facial skin characteristics. Statistical analyses link this locus to baseline skin hydration and moisture retention within the stratum corneum, particularly in East Asian cohorts. While it reflects an underlying biological predisposition toward skin barrier hydration, it represents only a modest component of overall cutaneous health.
What each genotype means
Typical baseline skin hydration
You carry two copies of the common C allele for this variant. In dermatological genome-wide association studies, this genotype is considered the baseline profile and is not associated with the increased skin stratum corneum moisture levels linked to the minor allele. Overall skin hydration remains heavily shaped by environmental conditions, barrier care, and broader lifestyle habits.
Carried by approximately 55% to 60% of individuals of East Asian ancestry and the vast majority of individuals of European ancestry.
Moderately higher skin hydration
You carry one copy of the T allele identified in facial skin association studies. Research in Asian cohorts indicates that carrying this allele is modestly associated with higher baseline stratum corneum moisture content and skin hydration. This represents a statistical trend in population studies rather than a guaranteed individual skin texture, as routine skincare and humidity exert substantial effects.
Carried by roughly 35% to 40% of people of East Asian descent, but found at considerably lower rates in European populations.
Higher skin hydration tendency
You carry two copies of the T allele associated with skin moisture retention in facial GWAS research. Individuals with this genotype generally exhibit the strongest statistical association with elevated stratum corneum moisture content compared to non-carriers. Because this genetic marker reflects complex polygenic traits, clinical barrier health is also governed by external skin care, diet, and climate factors.
Carried by approximately 5% to 6% of East Asian individuals and rare in populations of European ancestry.
Genomic Location and Variant Characteristics
The single nucleotide polymorphism rs11640236 is a common biallelic variant found within an intergenic region of the human genome. Unlike coding variants that alter the amino acid structure of structural proteins, rs11640236 resides outside annotated protein-coding exons. Because of its intergenic placement, researchers classify it as a non-coding marker that may exert influence through cis-regulatory actions, such as modulating distal gene promoters, acting within enhancer elements, or tagging a functional haplotype block in strong linkage disequilibrium. In human genome reference databases like [NCBI dbSNP](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/snp/rs11640236), the variant is cataloged with typical C and T alleles. Genomic studies often evaluate such intergenic markers to uncover regulatory mechanisms that control cellular pathways involved in tissue maintenance, barrier function, and epidermal homeostasis.
Association with Stratum Corneum Hydration
The primary interest in rs11640236 arises from dermatological genome-wide association studies (GWAS) investigating biophysical markers of the skin. Researchers frequently quantify moisture levels in the stratum corneum—the outermost layer of the epidermis—using non-invasive instrumental measures like electrical capacitance or corneometry. As detailed in reviews of epidermal physiology in the [StatPearls Bookshelf](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK545171), the stratum corneum requires optimal hydration to ensure proper lipid matrix organization, desquamation, and barrier resilience. Population studies exploring facial skin traits, such as cohorts analyzed in [PubMed](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38212682), have identified rs11640236 as demonstrating a statistically significant association with moisture retention and capacitance values in facial skin. These observations suggest the locus may tag a pathway that affects epidermal lipid synthesis or the preservation of natural moisturizing factors.
Evidence Strength and Study Limitations
Current scientific evidence connecting rs11640236 to facial moisture levels is considered moderate. While the statistical association reaches standard thresholds in specific cohort analyses, it has not yet undergone universal replication across all major ancestries in the [GWAS Catalog](https://www.ebi.ac.uk/gwas/search?query=rs11640236). Genome-wide analyses of skin aging and structural properties often encounter challenges related to environmental confounding. Factors such as relative humidity, seasonal weather changes, topical skincare routines, and occupational sun exposure strongly alter stratum corneum hydration. Furthermore, because rs11640236 is an intergenic variant, the exact biological mechanism remains uncharacterized. Experimental laboratory assays and functional validation studies will be needed before researchers can pinpoint whether this variant directly affects a nearby regulator of epidermal barrier function or merely serves as a proxy for an adjacent causative mutation.
Population Patterns and Diversity
Data from international sequencing efforts such as the 1000 Genomes Project and public population databases show pronounced differences in the allele frequency of rs11640236 across global ancestries. The minor allele reaches an estimated frequency of approximately 0.24 in East Asian populations, meaning nearly a quarter of sequenced chromosomes in these groups carry the variant. In contrast, the minor allele appears substantially less frequently among populations of European ancestry and other continental groups. Such frequency disparities are common across dermatological markers and explain why skin-related GWAS discoveries often fail to generalize across diverse groups. Investigating distinct populations is essential to ascertain whether the association between rs11640236 and moisture parameters holds true globally or reflects population-specific genetic architectures.
Practical Implications for Skin Care
Understanding your rs11640236 genotype offers an interesting educational window into skin biology, but it cannot be used to diagnose clinical dry skin conditions or prescribe a skincare regimen. Complex physical traits like skin moisture, resilience, and photo-aging are highly polygenic, influenced by hundreds of small-effect variants working in concert with the environment. Having a genotype statistically correlated with lower moisture levels does not mean an individual is destined to experience severe xerosis, nor does a favorable genotype guarantee lifetime skin hydration. Daily hydration habits, dietary nutrition, sun protection with broad-spectrum sunscreen, and barrier-supporting topical emollients remain the primary determinants of epidermal water retention. Anyone experiencing chronic dermatitis, flaking, or barrier compromise should consult a board-certified dermatologist for personalized clinical evaluation.
How common is this variant?
The minor allele shows a frequency of approximately 0.24 across East Asian cohorts, whereas it is observed at substantially lower frequencies in European and other continental populations.
Frequently asked questions
Can rs11640236 predict if I will have chronic dry skin?
No, this genetic variant cannot diagnose or reliably predict clinical dry skin conditions like xerosis or eczema. While it has been associated with statistical differences in skin moisture measurements across large cohorts, external factors such as indoor heating, skincare products, humidity, and age play far greater roles in determining your actual skin hydration.
Which gene is affected by rs11640236?
The variant rs11640236 is located in an intergenic region, meaning it does not fall within the coding sequence of a specific gene. Researchers hypothesize that it may act as a regulatory marker affecting the expression of nearby genes involved in skin barrier integrity, but the precise mechanism is still under investigation.
Does my rs11640236 result change how I should moisturize?
No genetic finding for this variant warrants a specific change in your skincare routine. Standard dermatological recommendations—such as using gentle cleansers, applying ceramide- or humectant-rich moisturizers, and wearing daily sun protection—apply regardless of your genotype.
Why does the frequency of rs11640236 vary between populations?
Like many genetic markers related to skin phenotypes, rs11640236 has drifted to different frequencies in different global populations over evolutionary history. The variant is notably more common in East Asian populations (minor allele frequency around 0.24) and less common in European ancestry groups, which is typical for variants tracked in population-specific genome studies.
Sources & further reading
Educational information only, last refreshed 9/10/2026. Not medical advice — these associations describe population statistics, not individual predictions.
Curious what your genotype is for rs11640236?
Upload a raw DNA file from 23andMe, AncestryDNA, MyHeritage, or FamilyTreeDNA and see this variant — plus thousands more — interpreted in your full report.
Get my report — $29