TY - JOUR
T1 - Skin surface pH, stratum corneum hydration, trans-epidermal water loss and skin roughness related to atopic eczema and skin dryness in a population of primary school children
AU - Eberlein-Konig, B.
AU - Schafer, T.
AU - Huss-Marp, J.
AU - Darsow, U.
AU - Mohrenschlager, M.
AU - Herbert, O.
AU - Abeck, D.
AU - Kramer, U.
AU - Behrendt, H.
AU - Ring, J.
PY - 2000
Y1 - 2000
N2 - Non-invasive investigations of skin morphology and function are standard tools to study the pathophysiology of several cutaneous disorders, yet they have not been used in population-based epidemiological studies. Here we examined skin surface pH, stratum corneum hydration, trans-epidermal water loss (TEWL) and skin roughness by profilometry in a study · population comprising 377 primary school children (8-9 years old) as part of a multicentre survey on risk factors for allergic diseases in school children. Skin surface pH showed significant higher values (p=0.029) in the group with atopic eczema (n=45) compared with the group without atopic eczema; all other parameters did not differ significantly between children with and without atopic eczema. With increasing skin dryness there was a significant increase in pH values (p=0.004). Stratum corneum hydration showed a significant decrease with increasing dryness (p < 0.001). Measurement of skin roughness also revealed a significant linear relationship with skin dryness (p=0.02). It is concluded that measurement of skin surface pH, corneometry and profilometry are useful non-invasive techniques to objectively assess skin dryness in epidemiological studies regarding atopic skin disease.
AB - Non-invasive investigations of skin morphology and function are standard tools to study the pathophysiology of several cutaneous disorders, yet they have not been used in population-based epidemiological studies. Here we examined skin surface pH, stratum corneum hydration, trans-epidermal water loss (TEWL) and skin roughness by profilometry in a study · population comprising 377 primary school children (8-9 years old) as part of a multicentre survey on risk factors for allergic diseases in school children. Skin surface pH showed significant higher values (p=0.029) in the group with atopic eczema (n=45) compared with the group without atopic eczema; all other parameters did not differ significantly between children with and without atopic eczema. With increasing skin dryness there was a significant increase in pH values (p=0.004). Stratum corneum hydration showed a significant decrease with increasing dryness (p < 0.001). Measurement of skin roughness also revealed a significant linear relationship with skin dryness (p=0.02). It is concluded that measurement of skin surface pH, corneometry and profilometry are useful non-invasive techniques to objectively assess skin dryness in epidemiological studies regarding atopic skin disease.
KW - Cutaneous properties
KW - Epidemiological study
KW - MIRIAM (Multicentre International Study for Risk Assessment of Indoor and Outdoor-Air Pollution on Allergy and Eczema Morbidity)
KW - Non-invasive technologies
KW - Skin morphology
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0033816813&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/000155500750042943
DO - 10.1080/000155500750042943
M3 - Article
C2 - 10954209
AN - SCOPUS:0033816813
SN - 0001-5555
VL - 80
SP - 188
EP - 191
JO - Acta Dermato-Venereologica
JF - Acta Dermato-Venereologica
IS - 3
ER -