title: [Topically applied arginine hydrochloride. Effect on urea content of stratum corneum and skin hydration in atopic eczema and skin aging].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Currently, there are no data on how the topical application of amino acids influences the complex moisture retaining system of the skin in vivo.
  
  
  METHODS
  An open study was performed to investigate the effects of topical application of arginine hydrochloride on epidermal stratum corneum urea content, transepidermal water loss, skin hydration, and clinical status of patients with atopic dermatitis and dry elderly skin.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Treatment of patients with atopic dermatitis with 2.5% arginine hydrochloride ointment over 4 weeks showed a significant increase in urea in the stratum corneum as well as a continuous increase in skin moisture.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The urea deficit in the stratum corneum in atopic dermatitis and elderly skin was corrected not by applying the moisturizer urea itself but instead by using arginine - its precursor in the Krebs-Henseleit urea cycle. This topical treatment also improved the clinical symptoms of dry skin.
authors.affiliation: Laboratorium für medizinische Mikrobiologie, Mölbis. info@mykologie-experten.de
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Nenoff
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Donaubauer
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Arndt
authors.forename: U-F
authors.initials: UF
authors.lastname: Haustein
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001120:Arginine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001706:Biopsy; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D004817:Epidermis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007057:Ichthyosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015595:Skin Aging / Q000187:drug effects*; D013053:Spectrophotometry; D014508:Urea / Q000378:metabolism*; D014870:Water Loss, Insensible / Q000187:drug effects; D014882:Water-Electrolyte Balance / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D014508:Urea; D001120:Arginine