Enriched and highly hydrating skin moisturizers may decrease skin damage due to allergic contact dermatitis

Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, August, 2003

The purpose of this double-blind study was to determine if the use of certain moisturizers could influence the development of allergic contact dermatitis (ACD)-related skin barrier damage. A highly hydrating moisturizer and a poorly hydrating moisturizer were applied to the volar forearms of fifteen nickel (NJ)sensitive volunteers for 20 days. On day 21, closed patch tests were applied to sites that had been previously treated with the moisturizers. Skin barrier function was assessed by determination of transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and skin capacitance (SC) using a TEWA meter and a corneometer, respectively. Statistically significant differences in TEWL and SC were seen between the two moisturizer sites following the development of ACD from the patch test. In comparison to the enriched formulation moisturizer, the poorly hydrating product was shown to induce an increase in ACD-related skin barrier damage. After the onset of ACD, the enriched topical cream also seemed to prevent post-inflammatory xerosis in comparison to the less hydrating moisturizer.

Hachem JP et al. The effect of two moisturizers on skin barrier damage in allergic contact dermatitis. Eur J Dermatol 2002; 12:136-18.