Measurement of transepidermal water loss, stratum corneum hydration and skin surface pH in occupational settings: A review

Abstract

Background The skin provides a permeable barrier which may be impaired in occupational settings. Transepidermal water loss (TEWL), stratum corneum hydration (SCH) and skin surface pH (SSpH) have been used in occupational settings to predict early onset of occupational skin diseases, to measure the effectiveness of prevention strategies for occupational skin diseases, and to assess skin condition during exposure. The aim was to compare the findings, identify shortcomings in the methodology and data reporting and furthermore, to make recommendations for future studies. Materials and Methods A literature study was conducted on studies published before December 2018 to provide a review on the measurement of TEWL, SCH and SSpH in occupational settings. Results TEWL, SCH and SSpH were previously measured in a wide variety of industries. Results between studies were highly variable, due to different study designs and different anatomical positions measured. Not all of the measurement conditions were reported and variations in study objectives led to data being reported and interpreted differently for most studies. Conclusion Incomplete reporting of methodology hinders comparison of bioengineering measurements. No bioengineering method has been proven useful as a predictive tool for occupational skin diseases, however, it is useful in the acute assessment of skin condition. It is recommended that future studies on TEWL, SCH and SSpH adhere to guidelines for occupational settings as far as possible to enable comparison between studies.

Apremilast Microemulsion as Topical Therapy for Local Inflammation: Design, Characterization and Efficacy Evaluation

“…Normal hydration levels maintain SC flexibility and its viscoelastic characteristics in addition to facilitating the enzymatic reactions involved in the maturation of corneocytes [86,87]. Destabilization or damage to the skin surface by exposure to physical or chemical agents can cause changes in TEWL and SCH [88][89][90]. In this study, the evaluation of these parameters confirmed that APR-ME does not alter sebaceous function nor compromise the integrity of the skin barrier.…”

<p>Berberine-Loaded Thiolated Pluronic F127 Polymeric Micelles for Improving Skin Permeation and Retention</p>

“…As shown in Figure 9A, the BTFM had sustained release effects at pH 5.5 and 7.4. Since the pH value of the epidermis (pH 5.5) is weakly acidic, 62,63 it is necessary to determine the release mechanism of berberine from BTFM at pH 5.5. The release kinetics of BTFM were fitted by Zero-order, Firstorder, Higuchi and Korsmeyer-Peppas, respectively.…”

Value of GPSkin for the measurement of skin barrier impairment and for monitoring of rosacea treatment in daily practice

“…Due to the relatively large probe surface and multi‐sensory character of the Epsilon, all these areas were integrated into the measurement, while GPSkin values were determined based on only one sensor with a smaller probe. Moreover, if the SC is mostly removed, capacitance measurements primarily reflect the hydration state of the ‘wet’ stratum granulosum rather than the SC 23,29 ; especially the Epsilon device seems less reliable in this situation.…”

“…The measurements took place at the right volar forearm, because this location is easy to access, mainly refrained from UV‐light damage, hair, and sebaceous glands, and often used as a standard anatomical site for skin barrier studies 3,22‐24 . All procedures were performed by one investigator (JGML).…”