Improvement in skin barrier function in patients with atopic dermatitis after treatment with a moisturizing cream (Canoderm (R))

Patients with atopic skin show a defective barrier function both in rough a nd in clinically normal skin, with an increasing risk of developing contact dermatitis, Moisturizing creams are often used in the treatment of dry ski n. The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of treatment with a urea-containing moisturizer on the barrier properties of atopic skin . Fifteen patients with atopic dermatitis treated one of their forearms twi ce dairy for 20 days with a moisturizing cream. Skin capacitance and transe pidermal. water loss (TEWL) were measured at the start: of the study and af ter 10 and 20 days. On day 21 the skin was exposed to sodium lauryl sulphat e (SLS) and on day 22 the irritant reaction was measured non-invasively. Sk in capacitance was significantly increased by the treatment, indicating inc reased skin hydration, The water barrier function, as reflected by TEWL val ues, tended to improve (P = 0.07), and the skin susceptibility to SLS was s ignificantly reduced, as measured by TEWL and superficial skin blood now (P < 0.05). Thus, it: seems that certain moisturizers could improve skin barr ier function in atopics and reduce skin susceptibility to irritants. The me chanism and the clinical relevance need further investigation.