Comparison of transepidermal water loss rates in subjects with skin patch test positive vs negative to skin care products.

Background: Adverse cutaneous reactions to skin care products (SCP) are becoming increasingly common and may be indicative of defective permeability barrier function.

Aim: To determine the differences in transepidermal water loss rates (TEWL) between skin patch positive vs negative to skin care products in normal Chinese females.

Methods: Skin patch test reactions to nine skin care products were assessed in 65 normal Chinese females. Correlations of cutaneous reactions to a panel of nine foreign and domestic SCP with permeability barrier function and stratum corneum (SC) hydration levels were analyzed.

Results: Out of 65 subjects, 24 (37%) displayed positive reactions to one or more SCP. However, the occurrence of positive reactions to patch tests did not correlate with either transepidermal water loss rates or SC hydration levels.

Conclusions: Though a substantial proportion of normal females display adverse reactions to SCP, this problem cannot be attributed to differences in the qualities of their epidermal permeability barriers, and therefore, these reactions more likely reflect the potential adverse events of the SCP themselves. However, further studies in large cohort of both males and females would be helpful to ascertain whether TEWL levels can predict cutaneous reactions to SCP.