title: The Influence of Two Different Foam Creams on Skin Barrier Repair of Foot Xerosis: A Prospective, Double-Blind, Randomised, Placebo-Controlled Intra-Individual Study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Dry skin, or xerosis, is a common condition and a key feature of skin diseases like atopic dermatitis (AD) and ichthyosis vulgaris. Foot xerosis may exist without underlying disease and could be related to very mild forms of AD or ichthyosis vulgaris. The synthesis of important skin lipids (cholesterol, free fatty acids and ceramides) is reduced in xerosis and AD, and reduced lipid synthesis is responsible for a lack of lipids and enzymes in the skin barrier. This slows down reorganisation of the lipid lamellae in the stratum corneum (SC).
  
  
  METHODS
  Skin barrier integrity was measured by morphometric analysis of the lipid lamellae in the SC after 4 weeks of treatment with a foam cream (active agent vs. placebo).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Significant treatment effects were shown after 2 and 4 weeks by an increasing amount of intercellular lipids in the SC.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study shows that a quick reorganisation of the SC lipids initiates a good restoration of the whole skin barrier after 4 weeks of treatment with a foam cream.
authors.affiliation: Microscopy Services Daehnhardt GmbH, Flintbek, Germany.
authors.forename: Dorothee
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Daehnhardt
authors.forename: Stephan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Daehnhardt-Pfeiffer
authors.forename: Judith
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Schulte-Walter
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Neubourg
authors.forename: Eckhard
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hanisch
authors.forename: Christel
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Schmetz
authors.forename: Marion
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Breuer
authors.forename: Regina
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fölster-Holst
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005533:Foot Dermatoses / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D050356:Lipid Metabolism; D008297:Male; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D008875:Middle Aged; D012867:Skin / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D063465:Skin Cream / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014867:Water / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D014867:Water