The zone of dermo-epidermal contact plays an important role in the formation of the cutaneous protective barrier. It has been shown that changes in the permeability of the cutaneous barrier during the human lifespan exert marked impact on the age-related skin characteristics. At the same time, the processes that proceed in the zone of dermo-epidermal contact are poorly known and await elucidation. The present electron microscopic study is based on the examination of 32 skin biopsies obtained from practically healthy subjects of 5 different age classes, viz. from 6 months to 7 years, 7 to 19 years, 20 to 40 years, 41 to 59 years, 60 to 74 years and 75 to 89 years. The zone of dermo-epidermal contact in the skin of the children under the age of 7 years age was found to show signs of immaturity. The skin of the subjects between 7 and 19 years and between 20 and 40 years contained the fully-developed zone of dermo-epidermal contact. The degenerative changes in the skin become apparent after the age of 40 years and progress further in an older age. The most pronounced changes in the zone of dermo-epidermal contact have been demonstrated in the elderly subjects (60 to 74 years) and in the later life (75 to 89 years). They are characterized by the thinning and duplication of the basement membrane in conjunction with the decrease in the number of semi-desmosomes.