THE HEALING OF THE EPIDERMAL SKIN BARRIER AFTER PRICK TEST - MEASUREMENT WITH WEAK DIRECT-CURRENT

The aim of this study was to evaluate a simple and harmless model for measuring biological events, e.g., epithelisation/cornification direct ly on patients' skin. Therefore, the healing of prick test lesions on the skin/horny barrier was studied using a long-known non-invasive bio physical method, the measurement of transdermal direct current. Volunt eers (patients with type I allergies and doctors of our clinic) were p ricked on the skin of the forearm. Before and after pricking an electr ic current was measured as follows: a small drop (sodium chloride 0.9 %) was applied on the prick lesion and connected with a 1.5 volt batte ry and a mA-meter by using a syringe (anode); an ECG-gel electrode (ca thode) was fixed on the palm of the hand. Immediately after pricking a n obvious increase of the current occurred in each lesion studied. Aft er one day (24 h) the current intensity began to decrease, reaching th e initial measurement after 48/72 h.