A Twenty-Four-Hour Occlusive Exposure to 1% Sodium Lauryl Sulfate Induces a Unique Histopathologic Inflammatory Response in the Xerotic Skin of Atopic Dermatitis Patients.

Abstract

Twenty-four-hour occlusive exposures of 1% aqueous sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) produced unique functional and histological responses in patients with atopic dermatitis. Disruption of the stratum corneum barrier;measured by transepidermal water loss;was much greater and longer lasting than in normal controls. In contrast to controls the histologic pattern induced reproduced the typical features of the disease with spongiosis;exocytosis of mononuclear cells and a perivenular infiltrate containing eosinophils. The perivascular infiltrate consisted of CD1a+;CD4+ and HLA-DR+ cells;which was much greater and more persistent in atopics. Eosinophilic major basic protein was abundant in atopics but absent in controls. SLS provocation of atopic dermatitis is a striking experimental example of Koebnerization;in which disruption of the stratum corneum barrier as well as cytokine activation of keratinocytes reproduces the clinical diseases.