Barriers to Rosacea Treatment

Irritant threshold correlates with barrier function, skin hydration, and contact hypersensitivity in atopic rosacea.

The epidermal barrier is impaired in rosacea. To see if this barrier impairment also occurs in nonfacial skin, investigators measured transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and stratum corneum hydration (SCH) on the volar forearms and nasolabial folds of 28 patients with erythematotelangiectatic rosacea, 31 patients with atopic dermatitis (AD), and 32 matched healthy control subjects.

On the nasolabial fold, TEWL was higher and SCH was lower in 28 rosacea patients than in controls. TEWL and SCH were normal on the volar forearm skin of rosacea patients, suggesting that the barrier defect in rosacea is local and limited to involved skin. AD patients had higher TEWL than rosacea or healthy subjects; and lower SCH on both the volar forearm and the nas…

Reviewing Author

Mark V. Dahl, MD

Disclosures

Consultant / Advisory board Ulthera, Inc.; AuBio LifeSciences, LLC; Paris Therapeutics

Equity Elorac, Inc.; Makucell, Inc.; Paris Therapeutics

Editorial boards UpToDate

Leadership positions in professional societiesNational Rosacea Society (Chairman, Medical Board)