Dryskininatopicdermatitis

Abstract

Atopicdermatitis(AD) is a common, chronically recurringskindisorder.Dryskinis a common finding in patients with AD, apart from thedermatitis. Although there are obvious clinical signs of an impaired barrier function of theskin, few investigators have studied this aspect of AD. The stratum corneum, where the barrier is located, has been studied with different techniques in patients with AD, and the results are now presented. The water-binding capacity ofdryatopicskinwas found to be reduced when measured with an in vitro microbalance technique. TEWL (transepidermal water loss) measured with and Evaporimeter Ep1, was increased indryskinand in clinically normalskinof atopics on predilection areas. Water content was decreased indryatopicskin, when measured with the Corneometer CM 420. In a quantitative electron microscopic study, the lamellar bodies were found to have an increased relative volume indryatopicskin. When using chromatographic analysis, preliminary data suggested reduced amounts of extractable stratum corneum lipids in patients with AD. In a clinical study, 80% of the patients with AD regarded theirskinas beingdry. Fifty percent were found to have areas ofdryskin, on clinical examination. By scanning electron microscopy (SEM), the surface pattern ofdryatopicskinwas found to be coarse and irregular. When using profilometry, quantitative differences in roughness parameters were found indryatopicvis-à-vis to normalskin.