BARRIER RECOVERY AND INFLUENCE OF IRRITANT STIMULI IN SKIN TREATED WITH A MOISTURIZING CREAM

Moisturizers are used daily by many people to alleviate symptoms of cl inically and subjectively dry skin. Recent studies suggest that certai n ingredients in creams may accelerate the recovery of a disrupted bar rier and decrease the skin susceptibility to irritant stimuli. In the present single-blind study. a moisturizing cream was tested for its in fluence both on barrier recovery in surfactant-damaged skin and on the susceptibility of normal skin to exposure to the irritant sodium laur yl sulphate (SLS). Parameters measured were transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and skin corneometer values, indicating degree of hydration. Tr eatment of surfactant-damaged skin with the test cream for 14 days pro moted barrier recovery, as observed as a decrease in TEWL. Skin corneo meter values also normalized more rapidly during the treatment. In nor mal skin, use of the test cream significantly reduced TEWL after 14 da ys of treatment, and irritant reactions to SLS were significantly decr eased. Skin corneometer values increased after only 1 application and remained elevated after 14 days. In conclusion. the accelerated rate o f recovery of surfactant-damaged skin and the lower degree of SLS-indu ced irritation in normal skin treated with the test cream may be of cl inical relevance in attempts to reduce contact dermatitis due to irrit ant stimuli. (C) Munksgaard, 1997.