At higher magnification (HA9), other differences in thin skin can be seen when compared to thick skin (HA4). Notice the relative lack of dermal papillae and epidermal ridges. The stratum corneum is thinner and the other layers are not as easy to distinguish. The stratum lucidum is not present. This skin is highly pigmented, and but the melanin granules are largely confined to the stratum basale (arrow). Since it normally has less mechanical stress, thin skin does not require the same modifications that are found in thick skin.