Effect of Skin Barrier Emulsion Cream vs a Conventional Moisturizer on Transepidermal Water Loss and Corneometry in Atopic Dermatitis: A Pilot Study

December 2014 | Volume 13 | Issue 12 | Original Article | 1482 | Copyright © December 2014


Leon H. Kircik MD

Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY; Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN;
Physicians Skin Care, PLLC, Louisville, KY

Abstract
The repair and maintenance of the epidermal barrier is of the utmost importance in the treatment of atopic dermatitis (AD). While barrier creams and emollients are considered to be a foundation of AD therapy, there is little comparative data between various product options. This was a pilot study with a small sample size to investigate the use of skin barrier emulsion cream vs a commonly used moisturizing lotion to improve the epidermal barrier in subjects with atopic dermatitis.

J Drugs Dermatol. 2014;13(12):1482-1484.

INTRODUCTION

It is now well recognized that the epidermal barrier serves not only to prevent the entry of exogenous factors such as irritants or allergens, but also to mediate disease. Although it was long known that dysfunction of the barrier may directly contribute to atopic dermatitis (AD), most of the evidence now suggests that there is a significant relationship between epidermal barrier dysfunction and cutaneous inflammation.

STUDY DESIGN