The Influence of Two Different Foam Creams on Skin Barrier Repair of Foot Xerosis: A Prospective, Double-Blind, Randomised, Placebo-Controlled Intra-Individual Study.

Background/aims: Dry skin, or xerosis, is a common condition and a key feature of skin diseases like atopic dermatitis (AD) and ichthyosis vulgaris. Foot xerosis may exist without underlying disease and could be related to very mild forms of AD or ichthyosis vulgaris. The synthesis of important skin lipids (cholesterol, free fatty acids and ceramides) is reduced in xerosis and AD, and reduced lipid synthesis is responsible for a lack of lipids and enzymes in the skin barrier. This slows down reorganisation of the lipid lamellae in the stratum corneum (SC).

Methods: Skin barrier integrity was measured by morphometric analysis of the lipid lamellae in the SC after 4 weeks of treatment with a foam cream (active agent vs. placebo).

Results: Significant treatment effects were shown after 2 and 4 weeks by an increasing amount of intercellular lipids in the SC.

Conclusion: This study shows that a quick reorganisation of the SC lipids initiates a good restoration of the whole skin barrier after 4 weeks of treatment with a foam cream.