Are There Any Differences in Skin Barrier Function, Integrity and Skin Blood Flow between Different Subpopulations of Asians and Caucasians?

Abstract

Background: There are few studies with a limited number of subjects examining whether there are population differences in skin barrier function between Asian skin and Caucasian skin. Objectives: To study skin barrier function and integrity in different subpopulations of Asian skin: Chinese, Malay, Indian and Caucasian. Methods: Transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and laser Doppler perfusion imaging (LDPI) were measured at baseline, after tape stripping and during recovery 3 h after stripping. Barrier integrity was assessed by counting the number of tape strippings required to cause an average TEWL of 20 g/m²/h. Results: There was no statistically significant difference in basal, poststripping and 3-hour recovery TEWL and LDPI readings between the 4 ethnic groups. Neither was there any statistically significant difference in recovery rate of TEWL and LDPI reading after tape stripping. There was also no difference in barrier integrity between the ethnic groups. All parameters did not differ when skin type was analyzed. Females had a better skin integrity; however, the barrier repair was similar. Conclusion: There is no evidence to support any real difference in skin barrier function between the 4 ethnic groups and the different skin types. Females seem to have a better integrity than males.