Improvement of skin barrier function during treatment of atopic dermatitis.
BACKGROUND
Active dermatitis causes a disturbance in skin barrier function. This can be evaluated by the measurement of transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and percutaneous absorption of hydrocortisone.


OBJECTIVE
The study objective was to evaluate changes in skin barrier function during treatment of atopic dermatitis.


METHODS
Nine patients with widespread atopic dermatitis were studied longitudinally by measuring the severity of the dermatitis and TEWL at intervals of 1 to 3 days. Percutaneous absorption of hydrocortisone was measured at entry and during treatment.


RESULTS
At entry, both TEWL and percutaneous absorption of hydrocortisone were elevated. Four to six days later, a significant decline was observed in both variables, indicating rapid improvement in skin barrier function. Individual changes in TEWL correlated with the changes in the systemic absorption of hydrocortisone.


CONCLUSIONS
TEWL reflects changes in the systemic absorption of topical hydrocortisone during treatment of atopic dermatitis.
D000287:Administration, Topical; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012867:Skin / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012869:Skin Absorption / Q000502:physiology; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013997:Time Factors; D014870:Water Loss, Insensible / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D006854:Hydrocortisone