Clinical Evaluation of Moisturizers with Physiological Analysis of Stratum Corneum TARC and TSLP

Eishin Morita,Satoshi Fukushima,Hironobu Ihn,Miki Tanioka,Hiroshi Matsunaka,Yumi Murakami,Yoshiki Miyachi

doi:10.4236/jcdsa.2014.41006

Eishin Morita, Satoshi Fukushima + Show 5 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.4236/jcdsa.2014.41006

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Abstract

To verify the usefulness of moisturizers, a multi-center study was conducted on patients with atopic dermatitis who visited 3 university hospitals in Japan between November 2009 and March 2012. Thirty-seven patients with dry skin and stable symptoms who were receiving topical and oral treatments were given moisturizers for 8 weeks. The moisturizers contained components such as glycerin and seawater minerals in 3 forms: lotion, emulsion, and cream. The moisturizers were chosen by physicians based on the degree of dryness of the patients’ skin. In addition to observing the skin condition of the entire body, high-frequency conductance as a parameter of skin surface hydration and transepidermal water loss (TEWL) in the buccal region and the medial side of the forearm were measured, and those of the back were used for comparison. Furthermore, stratum corneum levels of thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) and thymus and activation-regulated chemokine (TARC), both of which were objective parameters for atopic dermatitis skin lesion severity, were analyzed using the tape stripping method. At the beginning of the study, TSLP showed a correlation with skin symptoms (dryness, itching) and high-frequency conductance, whereas TARC showed a correlation with skin symptoms (erythema, dryness, itching) and TEWL. In addition, a correlation was noted among TSLP, TARC, and itching. At the end of the study, erythema, dryness, itching, TEWL，TSLP, and TARC were significantly reduced, whereas high-frequency conductance was significantly increased. The moisturizers clearly improved the dry skin symptoms of these patients with atopic dermatitis and improved the physiology of their sensitive and damaged skin. These findings also support the involvement of cytokines/chemokines in the pathogenesis of atopic dermatitis lesions.

Highlights

In addition to its allergic aspect, atopic dermatitis involves physiological aspects of the skin, such as barrier function failure and abnormalities of the epithelium, the stratum corneum [1,2]
To verify the usefulness of moisturizers in sensitive, damaged skin from the aspect of physiological function, we evaluated the external use of moisturizers in patients with atopic dermatitis and dry skin
We believe that the 8-week moisturizer application improved the skin conditions of the patients with atopic dermatitis and dry skin

Summary

Introduction

In addition to its allergic aspect, atopic dermatitis involves physiological aspects of the skin, such as barrier function failure and abnormalities of the epithelium, the stratum corneum [1,2]. Lipid reduction between corneocytes, such as ceramide in the stratum corneum [3]; itching related with invasion of the epidermal nerve fibers [4] and increased levels of serum TARC as indicators reflecting disease condition are well known in atopic dermatitis [5,6]. It is suggested that skin care products such as moisturizers, are useful for repairing the skin barrier function as symptomatic treatment for the symptoms of atopic dermatitis, dryness [9,10].

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