Exploring the influence of skin perfusion on transepidermal water loss.
BACKGROUND
Eventual relationships between the vascular function and transepidermal water loss (TEWL), in vivo,have not been entirely explored. By promoting local perfusion alterations through a well-known challenge test, the'tourniquet-cuff occlusion' manoeuvre, the present study searches for other dynamical factors influencing the cutaneous barrier, further exploring the applicability of these flow-related variables in dermatological research.


METHODS
By applying the tourniquet-cuff manoeuvre to a group of healthy volunteers (n= 20), transcutaneous (tc)gases (pO2-pCO2), LDF (laser doppler flowmetry) and TEWL were considered as representing the dynamical aspects under study and measured non-invasively.


CONCLUSIONS
An haemodynamical relationship between tcpO2 and LDF in the post-occlusive period was clearly identified, defining the autoregulatory index as a numerical descriptor of the local metabolic-flow adjustment under stress. TEWL was also significantly affected by the manoeuvre, especially during the post-occlusive period,although no significant relationships between TEWL and other tc variables could be found. The present findings seem to suggest that, under the present experimental conditions, local haemodynamics may also influence TEWL measurements and the skin barrier.
Rodrigues
Luís Monteiro
LM
Lisbon's University School of Pharmacy, Lab. Experimental Physiology (UCTF), Lisboa, Portugal. lrodrigues@ff.ul.pt
Pinto
Pedro Contreiras
PC
Magro
José Martins
JM
Fernandes
Milene
M
Alves
José
J
D000328:Adult; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity / Q000502:physiology; D001785:Blood Gas Monitoring, Transcutaneous / Q000379:methods; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000378:metabolism*; D004817:Epidermis / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008833:Microcirculation / Q000502:physiology*; D010100:Oxygen / Q000378:metabolism*; D012867:Skin / Q000098:blood supply*; D012879:Skin Physiological Phenomena; D014111:Tourniquets; D014870:Water Loss, Insensible / Q000502:physiology*
D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D010100:Oxygen