title: Skin surface pH, stratum corneum hydration, trans-epidermal water loss and skin roughness related to atopic eczema and skin dryness in a population of primary school children.
abstract: Non-invasive investigations of skin morphology and function are standard tools to study the pathophysiology of several cutaneous disorders, yet they have not been used in population-based epidemiological studies. Here we examined skin surface pH, stratum corneum hydration, trans-epidermal water loss (TEWL) and skin roughness by profilometry in a study population comprising 377 primary school children (8-9 years old) as part of a multicentre survey on risk factors for allergic diseases in school children. Skin surface pH showed significant higher values (p=0.029) in the group with atopic eczema (n=45) compared with the group without atopic eczema; all other parameters did not differ significantly between children with and without atopic eczema. With increasing skin dryness there was a significant increase in pH values (p=0.004). Stratum corneum hydration showed a significant decrease with increasing dryness (p<0.001). Measurement of skin roughness also revealed a significant linear relationship with skin dryness (p=0.02). It is concluded that measurement of skin surface pH, corneometry and profilometry are useful non-invasive techniques to objectively assess skin dryness in epidemiological studies regarding atopic skin disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology and Allergy Biederstein, Technical University, Munich, Germany. Eberlein-Koenig@lrz.tu-muenchen.de
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Eberlein-König
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Schäfer
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Huss-Marp
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Darsow
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Möhrenschlager
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Herbert
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Abeck
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Krämer
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Behrendt
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ring
mesh_terms: D001834:Body Water / Q000378:metabolism*; D002648:Child; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D005712:Galvanic Skin Response; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors; D012867:Skin / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014870:Water Loss, Insensible