Proteoglycan Combined with Hyaluronic Acid and Hydrolyzed Collagen Restores the Skin Barrier in Mild Atopic Dermatitis and Dry, Eczema-Prone Skin: A Pilot Study

Dry and eczema-prone skin conditions such as atopic dermatitis and xerotic eczema primarily indicate an impaired skin barrier function, which leads to chronic pruritus. Here, we investigated the effects of a novel emollient containing H.ECMTM liposome, which contains a soluble proteoglycan in combination with hydrolyzed collagen and hyaluronic acid. A prospective, single-arm study was conducted on 25 participants with mild atopic dermatitis or dry skin to assess the hydration and anti-inflammatory effect of the novel emollient applied daily over four weeks. All efficacy parameters, including itching severity, transepidermal water loss, and skin hydration, improved significantly after four weeks. The in vitro and ex vivo studies confirmed the restoration of the skin’s barrier function. The study revealed the clinical and laboratory efficacy of H.ECMTM liposome in reducing itching and improving the skin’s barrier integrity. Thus, the use of H.ECMTM liposome can be considered a therapeutic option for dry and eczema-prone skin.

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Skin Barrier Function in Psoriasis and Atopic Dermatitis: Transepidermal Water Loss and Temperature as Useful Tools to Assess Disease Severity

Journal of Clinical Medicine ◽

10.3390/jcm10020359 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (2) ◽

pp. 359 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Trinidad Montero-Vilchez ◽

María-Victoria Segura-Fernández-Nogueras ◽

Isabel Pérez-Rodríguez ◽

Miguel Soler-Gongora ◽

Antonio Martinez-Lopez ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Atopic Dermatitis ◽

Disease Severity ◽

Water Loss ◽

Barrier Function ◽

Skin Barrier ◽

Transepidermal Water Loss ◽

Diagnostic Tools ◽

Psoriatic Skin ◽

Skin Barrier Function ◽

Healthy Controls

Multiple diagnostic tools are used to evaluate psoriasis and atopic dermatitis (AD) severity, but most of them are based on subjective components. Transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and temperature are skin barrier function parameters that can be objectively measured and could help clinicians to evaluate disease severity accurately. Thus, the aims of this study are: (1) to compare skin barrier function between healthy skin, psoriatic skin and AD skin; and (2) to assess if skin barrier function parameters could predict disease severity. A cross-sectional study was designed, and epidermal barrier function parameters were measured. The study included 314 participants: 157 healthy individuals, 92 psoriatic patients, and 65 atopic dermatitis patients. TEWL was significantly higher, while stratum corneum hydration (SCH) (8.71 vs. 38.43 vs. 44.39 Arbitrary Units (AU)) was lower at psoriatic plaques than at uninvolved psoriatic skin and healthy controls. Patients with both TEWL > 13.85 g·m−2h−1 and temperature > 30.85 °C presented a moderate/severe psoriasis (psoriasis area severity index (PASI) ≥ 7), with a specificity of 76.3%. TEWL (28.68 vs. 13.15 vs. 11.60 g·m−2 h−1) and temperature were significantly higher, while SCH (25.20 vs. 40.95 vs. 50.73 AU) was lower at AD eczematous lesions than uninvolved AD skin and healthy controls. Patients with a temperature > 31.75 °C presented a moderate/severe AD (SCORing Atopic Dermatitis (SCORAD) ≥ 37) with a sensitivity of 81.8%. In conclusion, temperature and TEWL values may help clinicians to determine disease severity and select patients who need intensive treatment.

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Efficacy of Phototherapy With 308-nm Excimer Light for Skin Microbiome Dysbiosis and Skin Barrier Dysfunction in Canine Atopic Dermatitis

Frontiers in Veterinary Science ◽

10.3389/fvets.2021.762961 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 8 ◽

Author(s):

Ju-Yong Park ◽

Seon-Myeong Kim ◽

Jung-Hyun Kim

Keyword(s):

Atopic Dermatitis ◽

Relative Abundance ◽

Barrier Function ◽

Therapeutic Option ◽

Clinical Signs ◽

Skin Barrier ◽

Skin Barrier Function ◽

Skin Microbiome ◽

Canine Atopic Dermatitis ◽

Allergic Skin

The management of canine atopic dermatitis, an allergic skin disorder, is challenging. To investigate the effect of phototherapy using a 308-nm excimer light as a topical treatment for canine atopic dermatitis, 10 dogs with canine atopic dermatitis and 10 with non-allergic skin were enrolled in this study. Phototherapy was applied every 7 days for a total of 2 months. The skin microbiome, skin barrier function, and clinical outcomes were evaluated after phototherapy. Phototherapy significantly changed the composition of the skin microbiome of dogs with atopic dermatitis and significantly increased the relative abundance of the phyla Actinobacteria and Cyanobacteria. It significantly alleviated the clinical signs of canine atopic dermatitis without serious adverse effects. Transepidermal water loss, as a measure of skin barrier function, significantly decreased after phototherapy. In addition, phototherapy increased microbial diversity and decreased the relative abundance of Staphylococcus pseudintermedius associated with the severity of canine atopic dermatitis. These results suggest that the excimer light therapy is a suitable and safe therapeutic option for canine atopic dermatitis, which is also a spontaneous animal model of atopic dermatitis.

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Topical Pioglitazone Nanoformulation for the Treatment of Atopic Dermatitis: Design, Characterization and Efficacy in Hairless Mouse Model

Pharmaceutics ◽

10.3390/pharmaceutics12030255 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (3) ◽

pp. 255 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Lupe Carolina Espinoza ◽

Rodrigo Vera-García ◽

Marcelle Silva-Abreu ◽

Òscar Domènech ◽

Josefa Badia ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Atopic Dermatitis ◽

Ex Vivo ◽

In Vitro Release ◽

Skin Barrier ◽

Inflammatory Cells ◽

Hairless Mouse ◽

Skin Barrier Function ◽

Inflammatory Parameters ◽

Therapeutic Benefits

Pioglitazone (PGZ) is a drug used to treat type 2 diabetes mellitus that has been reported to show additional therapeutic activities on diverse inflammatory parameters. The aim of this study was to optimize a topical PGZ-loaded nanoemulsion (PGZ-NE) in order to evaluate its effectiveness for treating atopic dermatitis (AD). The composition of the nanoformulation was established by pseudo-ternary diagram. Parameters such as physical properties, stability, in vitro release profile, and ex vivo permeation were determined. The efficacy study was carried out using oxazolone-induced AD model in hairless mice. PGZ-NE released the drug following a hyperbolic kinetic. Additionally, its properties provided high retention potential of drug inside the skin. Therapeutic benefits of PGZ-NE were confirmed on diverse events of the inflammatory process, such as reduction of lesions, enhancement of skin barrier function, diminished infiltration of inflammatory cells, and expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines. These results were reinforced by atomic force microscope (AFM), which demonstrated the ability of the formulation to revert the rigidification caused by oxazolone and consequently improve the elasticity of the skin. These results suggest that PGZ-NE may be a promising treatment for inflammatory dermatological conditions such as AD.

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Transepidermal Water Loss Does Not Correlate with Skin Barrier Function In Vitro

Journal of Investigative Dermatology ◽

10.1046/j.1523-1747.2002.01760.x ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 118 (5) ◽

pp. 871-875 ◽

Cited By ~ 74

Author(s):

Robert P. Chilcott ◽

Christopher H. Dalton ◽

Andrew J. Emmanuel ◽

Ceri E. Allen ◽

Simon T. Bradley

Keyword(s):

Water Loss ◽

Barrier Function ◽

Skin Barrier ◽

Transepidermal Water Loss ◽

Skin Barrier Function

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Partially Hydrolysed Whey-Based Infant Formula Improves Skin Barrier Function

Nutrients ◽

10.3390/nu13093113 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (9) ◽

pp. 3113

Author(s):

Sébastien Holvoet ◽

Sophie Nutten ◽

Lénaïck Dupuis ◽

Dominique Donnicola ◽

Tristan Bourdeau ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Barrier Function ◽

Protein Hydrolysate ◽

Skin Barrier ◽

Transepidermal Water Loss ◽

Skin Barrier Function ◽

Primary Keratinocytes ◽

Total Ige ◽

Expression Of Genes ◽

Human Primary Keratinocytes

Specific partially hydrolysed whey-based infant formulas (pHF-W) have been shown to decrease the risk of atopic dermatitis (AD) in infants. Historically, AD has been associated primarily with milk allergy; however, defective skin barrier function can be a primary cause of AD. We aimed to ascertain whether oral supplementation with pHF-W can improve skin barrier function. The effect of pHF-W was assessed on transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and antibody productions in mice epicutaneously exposed to Aspergillus fumigatus. Human primary keratinocytes were stimulated in vitro, and the expression of genes related to skin barrier function was measured. Supplementation with pHF-W in neonatal mice led to a significant decrease in TEWL and total IgE, but not in allergen-specific antibody levels. The whey hydrolysate was sufficient to decrease both TEWL and total IgE. Aquaporin-3 gene expression, linked with skin hydration, was modulated in the skin of mice and human primary keratinocytes following protein hydrolysate exposure. Skin barrier improvement may be an additional mechanism by which pHF-W may potentially reduce the risk of AD development in infants. Further human studies are warranted to confirm the clinical efficacy of these observations.

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Effect of Topically Applied Wikstroemia dolichantha Diels on the Development of Atopic Dermatitis-Like Skin Symptoms in Mice

Nutrients ◽

10.3390/nu11040914 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 11 (4) ◽

pp. 914 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Jonghwan Jegal ◽

No-June Park ◽

Tae-Young Kim ◽

Sangho Choi ◽

Sang Woo Lee ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Atopic Dermatitis ◽

Barrier Function ◽

Immunoglobulin E ◽

Skin Barrier ◽

Skin Lesions ◽

Transepidermal Water Loss ◽

Skin Hydration ◽

Interleukin 4 ◽

Skin Barrier Function ◽

Skin Symptoms

Plants of the genus Wikstroemia are traditionally used to treat inflammatory diseases like bronchitis and rheumatoid arthritis. In the present study, the anti-atopic effects of an EtOH extract of Wikstroemia dolichantha (WDE) on oxazolone- and DNCB (2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene)-induced dermatitis in mice were investigated. Both ears of BALB/c mice were exposed to oxazolone, and dorsal skins of SKH-1 hairless mice were sensitized with DNCB to induce acute eczematous atopic skin lesions. 1% WDE was applied daily to oxazolone- and DNCB-induced AD mice for two or three weeks, respectively. Total IL-4 and IgE concentrations in serum, transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and skin hydration were assessed. High-performance liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (HPLC/MS) was used to determine the composition of WDE. Dermal application of 1% WDE grossly and histopathologically improved oxazolone- and DNCB-induced AD skin symptoms. Epidermal thickness and mast cell infiltration were significantly lower in animals treated with WDE than in vehicle controls. Furthermore, in addition to reducing DNCB-induced increases in serum IL-4 (interleukin 4) and IgE (immunoglobulin E) levels, WDE also decreased TEWL and increased skin hydration (indicative of improved skin barrier function). The four flavonoids taxifolin, aromadendrin, padmatin and chamaejasmine were tentatively identified in WDE by HPLC-DAD/QTOF-MS. The above results show WDE protected against oxazolone- and DNCB-induced AD in mice by down-regulating the TH2-associated cytokine IL-4 and improving skin barrier function and suggest WDE might be useful for the management of atopic dermatitis.

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A Novel Multi-Action Emollient Plus Cream Improves Skin Barrier Function in Patients with Atopic Dermatitis: In vitro and Clinical Evidence

Skin Pharmacology and Physiology ◽

10.1159/000513055 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 34 (1) ◽

pp. 8-18

Author(s):

Marika Quadri ◽

Roberta Lotti ◽

Laura Bonzano ◽

Silvana Ciardo ◽

Mario Bruno Guanti ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Atopic Dermatitis ◽

Barrier Function ◽

Randomized Study ◽

Skin Barrier ◽

Lower Limbs ◽

Skin Barrier Function ◽

Tape Stripping ◽

Epidermal Thickness ◽

Epidermal Homeostasis

Background: Emollients capable of restoring the skin barrier function would extend their role beyond basic maintenance therapy in atopic dermatitis (AD). Objectives: Investigate the effect of a novel emollient plus cream (EC; Dermoflan®) on the skin barrier in vitro and in patients with mild-to-moderate AD. Methods: The effect of EC on the skin barrier recovery was evaluated using a tape-stripping (TS) model. After TS, organ cultures were treated with EC (undiluted or diluted 1:1 with water) and analyzed at 18–120 h using hematoxylin and eosin, Oil Red O, immunohistochemical, and immunofluorescent techniques. In a double-blind, randomized study, EC or placebo was applied once daily for 2 months to antecubital folds of the upper and lower limbs of patients with mild-to-moderate AD in clinical remission. Epidermal thickness, vascularization, and epidermal hydration were assessed by optical coherence tomography and corneometry, respectively, at baseline, and 1 and 2 months following treatment initiation. Results: Following TS, EC treatment significantly increased epidermal thickness and lipid content versus diluent in the skin organ culture, as well as claudin-1, involucrin, and caspase-14 expression, suggesting skin barrier repair. EC treatment also decreased keratin-16 expression and increased levels of Toll-like receptors 1 and 2 versus diluent, suggesting involvement in regulating the epidermal immune response. In 20 patients randomized 1:1 to EC or placebo, EC treatment at the elbow fold/popliteal fossa significantly decreased epidermal thickness after 2 months, and the number of blood vessels at the elbow fold after 1 and 2 months, versus placebo. EC significantly improved the skin hydration after 2 months versus baseline. Conclusions: This novel multi-action EC may help to restore epidermal homeostasis and improve the skin of patients with AD. Results indicate that this novel multi-action EC could be a valid adjuvant therapy in patients with AD. Key Message: Novel multi-action emollient cream helps to restore epidermal homeostasis and improves the skin affected by AD.

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Role of AHR Ligands in Skin Homeostasis and Cutaneous Inflammation

Cells ◽

10.3390/cells10113176 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (11) ◽

pp. 3176

Author(s):

Nieves Fernández-Gallego ◽

Francisco Sánchez-Madrid ◽

Danay Cibrian

Keyword(s):

Atopic Dermatitis ◽

Barrier Function ◽

Inflammatory Responses ◽

Normal Skin ◽

Skin Barrier ◽

Skin Inflammation ◽

In Vitro Assays ◽

Skin Barrier Function

Aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) is an important regulator of skin barrier function. It also controls immune-mediated skin responses. The AHR modulates various physiological functions by acting as a sensor that mediates environment–cell interactions, particularly during immune and inflammatory responses. Diverse experimental systems have been used to assess the AHR’s role in skin inflammation, including in vitro assays of keratinocyte stimulation and murine models of psoriasis and atopic dermatitis. Similar approaches have addressed the role of AHR ligands, e.g., TCDD, FICZ, and microbiota-derived metabolites, in skin homeostasis and pathology. Tapinarof is a novel AHR-modulating agent that inhibits skin inflammation and enhances skin barrier function. The topical application of tapinarof is being evaluated in clinical trials to treat psoriasis and atopic dermatitis. In the present review, we summarize the effects of natural and synthetic AHR ligands in keratinocytes and inflammatory cells, and their relevance in normal skin homeostasis and cutaneous inflammatory diseases.

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