Static charge of skin surface has a significant effect on skin feel, look, and health. For this reason, controlling the charge buildup is an important issue in the commercial skin care industry. In this study, a systematic triboelectrification study of skin and skin cream was carried out. The surface potential of virgin skin and cream treated skin was measured using the Kelvin probe microscopy with an atomic force microscope. Since skin surface is not microscopically smooth, many interactions take place at microasperities, and there are also many microspherical particles in the environment interacting with skin surface. Triboelectrification of skin was studied by charging skin surface using a polystyrene plate on the macroscale and a polystyrene microsphere on the microscale. Since triboelectric charge is expected to be a function of normal load, velocity, and rubbing time, the influence of velocity, normal load, and rubbing time on the surface potential of virgin skin and cream treated skin were studied. Finally, charging mechanisms are discussed. (C) 2010 American Vacuum Society. [DOI: 10.1116/1.3374341]