title: Induction of a hardening phenomenon by repeated application of SLS: analysis of lipid changes in the stratum corneum.
abstract: Adaptation of the skin to repeated influence of exogenous irritants is called the hardening phenomenon. We investigated the stratum corneum lipid composition before and after induction of a hardening phenomenon. Irritant contact dermatitis was induced in 23 non-atopic volunteers by repeated occlusive application of 0.5% sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) over 3 weeks. At 3, 6 and 9 weeks after irritation, the SLS responses of pre-irritated skin and normal skin were compared. The horny layer lipid composition (ceramides 1-7, cholesterol and free fatty acids) was assessed before irritation and 3, 6 and 9 weeks after irritation. During the first 2 weeks of irritation the transepidermal water loss increased continuously and seemed to decrease during the third week (effect of adaptation). The barrier function of pre-irritated sites was more stable to SLS challenge. Three weeks after irritation, there was a significant increase of ceramide 1 (p<0.001). The only volunteer without hardening phenomenon showed no increase of ceramide 1. Ceramide 1 seems to play a key role as a protection mechanism against repeated irritation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena, Germany. christian.heinemann@derma.uni-jena.de
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Heinemann
authors.forename: Christiane
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Paschold
authors.forename: Joachim
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fluhr
authors.forename: Walter
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wigger-Alberti
authors.forename: Sibylle
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Schliemann-Willers
authors.forename: Hany
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Farwanah
authors.forename: Klaus
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Raith
authors.forename: Reinhard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Neubert
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Elsner
mesh_terms: D000279:Administration, Cutaneous; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002518:Ceramides / Q000378:metabolism; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000378:metabolism; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D017453:Dermatitis, Irritant / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007509:Irritants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D050356:Lipid Metabolism; D008297:Male; D012867:Skin / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D012967:Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014870:Water Loss, Insensible / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D002518:Ceramides; D005227:Fatty Acids; D007509:Irritants; D012967:Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate; D002784:Cholesterol