Tape-stripping method in man: comparison of evaporimetric methods.
OBJECTIVE
If the occlusion time of a closed chamber evaporimeter on the skin is too long, saturation might occur. We previously compared an open chamber and a closed chamber device on healthy volunteers. Comparable data on stripped skin with higher evaporation rates are not available. This study compares the sensitivity and correlation of open and closed chamber devices in a tape-stripping human model. The amount of tape removed SC was also quantified with a protein assay method.


METHODS
Ten healthy volunteers (six male and four female; seven Caucasians and three Asian; mean age 38+/-16) were enrolled. In a randomized manner, one forearm was measured by an open chamber device and the opposite by a closed chamber device. After recording baseline measurements, 20 strippings were taken on each test site with tape disks. Transepidermal water loss (TEWL) was measured at the end of 10 and 20 tape strippings at each test site. Stratum corneum (SC) aggregates in the strips was assayed.


RESULTS
The mean values obtained from two devices were similar after 10 trips and 20 strips. There was no statistically significant difference. The closed chamber device showed a slightly higher (but not significant) inter-individual coefficient of variation. SC aggregates in the strips were similar and without a statistically significant difference.


CONCLUSIONS
The study suggests that both devices might yield similar TEWL values on stripped human skin in vivo.
Zhai
Hongbo
H
Department of Dermatology, University of California, School of Medicine, San Francisco, CA 94143-0989, USA. zhaih@derm.ucsf.edu
Dika
Emi
E
Goldovsky
Marina
M
Maibach
Howard I
HI
D000328:Adult; D001834:Body Water / Q000502:physiology*; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011934:Reagent Strips; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012879:Skin Physiological Phenomena; D012882:Skin Tests / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D014870:Water Loss, Insensible / Q000502:physiology*
D011934:Reagent Strips