title: Effect of topically applied evening primrose oil on epidermal barrier function in atopic dermatitis as a function of vehicle.
abstract: The aim of this study was to establish the effect on barrier function in atopic dermatitis of topical evening primrose oil in an amphiphilic and a stable water-in-oil emulsion. The studies were vehicle-controlled in two populations of 20 atopic subjects. Barrier function was assessed in terms of transepidermal water loss and stratum corneum hydration after a 4-week treatment period and a 1-week treatment-free period. A barrier function test with sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS) and nicotinic acid ester was also carried out. Evening primrose oil proved to have a stabilising effect on the stratum corneum barrier, but this was apparent only with the water-in-oil emulsion, not the amphiphilic emulsion. The choice of vehicle is therefore an extremely important factor in the efficacy of topically applied evening primrose oil.
authors.affiliation: Dermatology Clinic, Klinikum der Stadt Karlsruhe gGmbH, Karlsruhe, Germany.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Gehring
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bopp
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Rippke
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gloor
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003879:Dermatologic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004655:Emulsions; D005228:Fatty Acids, Essential / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008041:Linoleic Acids; D008297:Male; D009539:Nicotinic Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D031665:Oenothera biennis; D014677:Pharmaceutical Vehicles; D010938:Plant Oils; D012867:Skin / Q000187:drug effects*; D012869:Skin Absorption / Q000187:drug effects; D012967:Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014870:Water Loss, Insensible; D017965:gamma-Linolenic Acid
chemical_list: D003879:Dermatologic Agents; D004655:Emulsions; D005228:Fatty Acids, Essential; D008041:Linoleic Acids; D009539:Nicotinic Acids; D014677:Pharmaceutical Vehicles; D010938:Plant Oils; D012967:Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate; C028498:evening primrose oil; D017965:gamma-Linolenic Acid