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Cutaneous homeostasis and epidermal barrier function in a young healthy Caucasian population

  • Investigative Report
  • Published:
European Journal of Dermatology

Abstract

Background

Transepidermal water loss (TEWL), stratum corneum hydration (SCH), and skin surface pH are indicators of skin barrier integrity. There is scant evidence on normative data for cutaneous homeostasis parameters in healthy individuals.

Objectives

To develop normative data for skin erythema, melanin, pH, SCH, and TEWL; identify differences in these variables among different anatomical locations; and explore factors that may modify these values.

Material & Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted in 87 healthy volunteers (34 males) aged 20 to 40 years. TEWL, SCH, pH, erythema, and melanin were measured on the cheeks, volar forearms, and palms.

Results

The lowest TEWL value corresponded to volar forearms (9.69 ± 2.94 g m−2·h−1) and the highest to palms (49.32 ± 14.55 g m−2·h−1). Erythema was more evident on cheeks than palms or volar forearms (413.51 arbitruary units [AU] vs. 259.98 AU vs. 252.02 AU). The lowest melanin index was documented for palms (92.72 ± 41.70 AU). pH levels were similar among the different locations. The erythema index was significantly higher in males versus females for all locations. Linear regression analysis adjusted for age and SCH revealed an increase in 0.45 ± 0.18 g m−2·h−1 for TEWL on the cheek and 0.32 ± 0.10 g m−2·h−1 for TEWL on the forearm for each one-year increase in age.

Conclusion

We provide normative data for individuals aged 20–40 years, across three anatomical locations, and propose a predictive model for TEWL on the cheek and forearm as a function of age and SCH

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Acknowledgments and disclosures

Acknowledgments: We would like to thank Richard Davies for improving the English of this manuscript. The results of this study are part of the PhD work of Trinidad Montero-Vilchez. Conflicts of interest: none. Funding: none

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Author notes

  1. These authors contributed equally to this work

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Dermatology at Hospital, Universitario Virgen de las Nieves, Granada, Spain

    Maria Isabel Espinosa-Rueda, Trinidad Montero-Vilchez, Antonio Martinez-Lopez, Alejandro Molina-Leyva & Salvador Arias-Santiago

  2. Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria ibs.GRANADA, Granada, Spain

    Trinidad Montero-Vilchez, Antonio Martinez-Lopez, Alejandro Molina-Leyva, Alvaro Sierra-Sánchez & Salvador Arias-Santiago

  3. Dermatology Department. Faculty of Medicine, University of Granada, Granada, Spain

    Salvador Arias-Santiago & Agustin Buendia-Eisman

Authors
  1. Maria Isabel Espinosa-Rueda
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  2. Trinidad Montero-Vilchez
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  3. Antonio Martinez-Lopez
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  4. Alejandro Molina-Leyva
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  5. Alvaro Sierra-Sánchez
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  6. Salvador Arias-Santiago
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  7. Agustin Buendia-Eisman
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Salvador Arias-Santiago.

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Espinosa-Rueda, M.I., Montero-Vilchez, T., Martinez-Lopez, A. et al. Cutaneous homeostasis and epidermal barrier function in a young healthy Caucasian population. Eur J Dermatol 31, 176–182 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1684/ejd.2021.4021

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1684/ejd.2021.4021

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