E. Held et al., Effect of long-term use of moisturizer on skin hydration, barrier functionand susceptibility to irritants, ACT DER-VEN, 79(1), 1999, pp. 49-51
Moisturizers are often used in the prevention and treatment of irritant con
tact dermatitis. The present study was to determine whether long-term daily
use of a moisturizer on normal skin would affect skin barrier function, hy
dration state, or susceptibility to sodium lauryl sulphate. Healthy volunte
ers used a moisturizer on one forearm 3 times daily for 4 weeks, The other
forearm served as a control, Afterwards both forearms were challenged with
a patch-test of sodium lauryl sulphate, Skin barrier function was evaluated
by measuring trans-epidermal water loss and skin hydration by measuring el
ectrical capacitance. Electrical capacitance was significantly increased on
the treated arm during the treatment period. After challenge with sodium l
auryl sulphate, transepidermal mater loss was significantly higher on the a
rm treated with moisturizer than on the control arm. The results suggest th
at long-term treatment with moisturizers on normal skin may increase skin s
usceptibility to irritants.