The Effect of Ambient Humidity on Transepidermal Water Loss

Grice, Katherine; Sattar, H.; Baker, Harvey

doi:10.1111/1523-1747.ep12540526

Cited by 65 publications

(33 citation statements)

References 12 publications

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“…Our analysis of the association of patch test reactions with environmental factors, namely temperature and absolute humidity, confirms the association between dry/cold ambient conditions and skin irritability identified by experimental research [24], observational studies [19, 20, 25] and systematic skin irritation testing [12,13,14,15], at least regarding the special situation of patch testing.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 84%

Patch Test Results with Metals and Meteorological Conditions

Hegewald

Uter

Kränke

et al. 2008

Int Arch Allergy Immunol

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Background: Nickel, cobalt and chromium are some of the most common causes of type IV sensitizations and subsequent allergic contact dermatitis. Accurate diagnosis of contact sensitization to these metal salts is made possible through standardized patch testing; however, patch tests with metal allergens may be influenced by meteorological conditions at the time of testing. We aimed to investigate how patch test reactions to these metals relate to outdoor temperature and humidity at the time of testing. Methods: Clinical patch test results from 61,435 patients tested at Austrian and German dermatology departments participating in a contact sensitization surveillance network (www.ivdk.org) from 1993 through 2001 were evaluated with weather data measured near the testing location and at the time of testing. Test reactions and ambient temperature and humidity were examined with multinomial logistic regression models. Results: The odds of irritant and doubtful reactions to all 3 ionized metals increased during cold/arid conditions, and the odds of weak allergic (positive) reactions to nickel and cobalt also increased during cold/dry weather. Strong allergic reactions were essentially independent of weather conditions. Conclusions: The increase in irritant and doubtful reactions coinciding with decreasing temperature and humidity may be the result of an overall increase in skin irritation brought about by these ambient conditions. The observed increases in erythematous and infiltrated (‘weak allergic’) reactions may be due to doubtful reactions increasing in intensity and being (falsely) classified as positive during colder and drier conditions.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 84%

Patch Test Results with Metals and Meteorological Conditions

Hegewald

Uter

Kränke

et al. 2008

Int Arch Allergy Immunol

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“…5). These measurements with the Evaporimeter and the Tewameter are in agreement with previous work of Bettley and Grice [11], Goodman and Wolf [12] and Grice et al [ 13] but disagree with the findings of Petro and Komor [7] who found no depen dence of TEWL on ambient RH for the fore- arm. As a consequence ambient RH is an important variable in TEWL measurements with both instruments.…”

Section: Influence O F External and Environmental Factorssupporting

confidence: 88%

Study of the Stratum corneum Barrier Function by Transepidermal Water Loss Measurements: Comparison between Two Commercial Instruments: Evaporimeter<sup>®</sup> and Tewameter<sup>®</sup>

Barel

Clarys²

1995

Skin Pharmacol Physiol

119

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The measurement of transepidermal water loss (TEWL) is an important noninvasive method in order to assess the barrier function of the stratum corneum. As a consequence, TEWL has been found to be a very useful technique for studying skin irritation induced by various physical and chemical effects. Exposure of the skin to chemicals (detergents) and physical conditions (occlusion and stripping) generally results in an increase of TEWL. Until recently the only commercially available TEWL instrument was the Evaporimeter^® developed by ServoMed (Sweden). The instrument is based on the open chamber system with two humidity and temperature sensors which measure the water evaporation gradient at the surface of the skin. Recently a new commercially available instrument based on the same physical principle of measurement was developed by Courage and Khazaka (Tewameter^®, FRG). Our aim in this study has been to compare the measuring capacities of both instruments. The accuracy, sensitivity, variability and reproducibility of both instruments were compared in vivo under identical conditions on normal skin and skin damaged by external conditions. The influence of external and environmental factors such as air and probe temperature, relative humidity, air turbulence and pressure of application was evaluated for both instruments. Finally, the two instruments were compared in practice when following the increase in TEWL of the skin after stripping, occlusion and exposure to irritant household detergents. A very good correlation (r = +0.97) was found between the results of the two instruments over a wide range of TEWL values.

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“…A few patients experienced a reduction in foul odor production and decreased sweating after FMR treatment. This result corresponds with previous results that apocrine and eccrine glands both exist on the same level of the skin layer [25]. …”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 93%

“…The microneedle penetration depth in our study was designed to reach between 2.5 and 3.5 mm. This depth was based on a previous study which found that apocrine and eccrine glands were in close apposition and that glandular tissues occupied an average thickness of 3.5 mm of skin [25]. As a result, the mean coagulation depth in the skin specimens was 2.5 mm, and coagulation necrosis of sweat glands was observed immediately after treatment, as well as a reduction in the size and number of sweat glands during the follow-up period.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Efficacy of Fractional Microneedle Radiofrequency Device in the Treatment of Primary Axillary Hyperhidrosis: A Pilot Study

et al. 2013

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Background: Fractional microneedle radiofrequency (FMR) devices deliver energy to the deep dermis through insulated microneedles without destroying the epidermis. These FMR devices have been shown to be effective for the treatment of wrinkles, acne scars and large pores. In this study it was postulated that FMR energy could specifically affect the sweat glands, preserving the skin surface even if sweat glands were seated in the deep dermis. Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of FMR for primary axillary hyperhidrosis (PAH) treatment and to conduct a histological analysis before and after treatment. Methods: Twenty patients with PAH had 2 sessions of bipolar FMR treatment at 4-week intervals. Clinical improvement was evaluated using a Hyperhidrosis Disease Severity Scale (HDSS) and photographs were taken using the starch-iodine test at every visit and 2 months after the last treatment. The amount of sweat reduction was indirectly assessed using a Tewameter™. Skin biopsies were obtained from 3 of the enrolled patients before and after treatment. The satisfaction and adverse reactions of the research participants were recorded at every follow-up visit. Results: HDSS scores decreased significantly from a baseline of 3.3 to 1.5 and 1.8 after the first and second months of posttreatment follow-up sessions, respectively (p < 0.001). In response to a subjective assessment at 1 month after the second treatment, 75% of patients (n = 15) had an HDSS score of 1 or 2, and 70% of patients (n = 14) expressed more than 50% improvement in their sweating. The starch-iodine reaction was also remarkably reduced in 95% of patients (n = 19) after FMR treatment. Histological findings showed a decrease in the number and size of both apocrine and eccrine glands 1 month after the final treatment. Side effects were minimal and included mild discomfort, transient swelling and postinflammatory hyperpigmentation. Conclusion: FMR treatment was effective for the treatment of PAH without significant adverse reactions due to direct volumetric heating of the lower dermis.

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The Effect of Ambient Humidity on Transepidermal Water Loss

Cited by 65 publications

References 12 publications

Patch Test Results with Metals and Meteorological Conditions

Patch Test Results with Metals and Meteorological Conditions

Study of the Stratum corneum Barrier Function by Transepidermal Water Loss Measurements: Comparison between Two Commercial Instruments: Evaporimeter<sup>®</sup> and Tewameter<sup>®</sup>

Efficacy of Fractional Microneedle Radiofrequency Device in the Treatment of Primary Axillary Hyperhidrosis: A Pilot Study

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