CONTEXT: Recent progress in the field of epithelial culture techniques has allowed the development of culture systems in which the reconstructed epidermis presents characteristics of morphological differentiation similar to those seen in vivo. Human epidermis reconstructed in vitro may be used as the best alternative for the in vitro testing of the toxicology and efficiency of products for topical use, as well as in the treatment of skin burns and chronic skin ulcers. OBJECTIVE: To demonstrate a method for obtaining human epidermis reconstructed in vitro, using keratinocytes and melanocytes cultivated on dead de-epidermized human dermis. TYPE OF STUDY: Experimental/laboratory. SETTING: Skin Cell Culture Laboratory of the Faculdade de Ciencias Medicas, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, Sao Paulo, Brazil. PROCEDURE: Human keratinocytes and melanocytes cultured in vitro were grown on a biological matrix (dead de-epidermized human dermis) and the system was kept at an air-liquid interface, in a suitable culturing medium, until a stratified human epidermis was formed, maintaining the histological characteristics of the epidermis in vivo. RESULTS: It was histologically demonstrated that it is possible to reproduce a differentiated epidermis through keratinocytes and melanocytes cultured on dead de-epidermized human dermis, thus obtaining a correctly positioned human epidermis reconstructed in vitro with functional keratinocytes and melanocytes that is similar to in vivo epidermis. CONCLUSIONS: It is possible to obtain a completely differentiated human epidermis reconstructed in vitro from keratinocyte and melanocyte cultures on a dead de-epidermized human dermis.