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Altered Epidermal Permeability Barrier Function in the Uninvolved Skin Supports a Role of Epidermal Dysfunction in the Pathogenesis of Occupational Hand Eczema
- Source :
- Skin Pharmacology and Physiology. 33:94-101
- Publication Year :
- 2020
- Publisher :
- S. Karger AG, 2020.
-
Abstract
- Although a compromised epidermal permeability barrier can contribute to the development of contact dermatitis, whether subjects with hand eczema display abnormalities in baseline epidermal permeability barrier function in their uninvolved skin remains unknown. The aim of the present study was to assess epidermal permeability barrier function in subjects with and without hand eczema in clothing manufacturers. Upon approval by the institutional review board, volunteers were recruited from clothing manufacturers in Guangzhou City, China. An 11-item questionnaire was used to collect general data from the volunteers. The diagnoses of self-proclaimed hand eczema were further confirmed by a dermatologist. Epidermal biophysical properties, including transepidermal water loss (TEWL) rates, stratum corneum hydration and skin surface pH were measured on the flexural surface of the left forearm in all volunteers. Epidermal biophysical properties were compared among cohorts of subjects with active hand eczema, a prior history of hand eczema and without any history of hand eczema. A total of 650 questionnaires were collected from 462 females and 188 males, with a mean age of 36.7 ± 0.46 years (range 16–69 years; 95% CI 35.8–37.59). Thirty-five subjects (5.4%) currently had hand eczema, while 28 subjects (4.3%) reported a prior history of hand eczema that was inactive currently. The prevalence of hand eczema did not differ significantly between genders. Neither a prior personal nor a family history of allergies was associated with the prevalence of hand eczema, but certain occupations and frequent contact with disinfectants were independently associated with the prevalence of hand eczema. In the overall cohort, males displayed higher TEWL rates and stratum corneum hydration levels than did females. Both skin surface pH and TEWL rates differed significantly among normal controls and subjects with active hand eczema or a prior history of hand eczema (p < 0.05). In conclusion, the uninvolved skin site of subjects with hand eczema exhibits abnormalities in epidermal perme­ability barrier, supporting a pathogenic role of epidermal dysfunction in hand eczema. Whether subjects with hand eczema in other occupations also display altered epidermal function on uninvolved skin remains to be explored.
- Subjects :
- Adult
Male
0301 basic medicine
Allergy
medicine.medical_specialty
Cell Membrane Permeability
Adolescent
Physiology
Eczema
Dermatology
Young Adult
030207 dermatology & venereal diseases
03 medical and health sciences
0302 clinical medicine
immune system diseases
otorhinolaryngologic diseases
medicine
Stratum corneum
Humans
Family history
skin and connective tissue diseases
Barrier function
Aged
Skin
Pharmacology
Transepidermal water loss
integumentary system
business.industry
General Medicine
Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
Middle Aged
Hand
medicine.disease
Water Loss, Insensible
Occupational Diseases
030104 developmental biology
medicine.anatomical_structure
Hand eczema
Cohort
Female
Epidermis
business
Contact dermatitis
Subjects
Details
- ISSN :
- 16605535 and 16605527
- Volume :
- 33
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- Skin Pharmacology and Physiology
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....b0457f35d0440c4f925f5c25e1e10d18