This Article  • References  • Full text PDF  • Send to a friend  • Save in My Folder  • Save to citation manager  • Permissions  Citing Articles  • Citation map  • Citing articles on HighWire  • Citing articles on Web of Science (99)  • Contact me when this article is cited  Related Content  • Similar articles in this journal  Social Bookmarking   What's this?

Instrumentation and Responses to Physical and Chemical Insults

Harvey Baker, MD, MRCP; Albert M. Kligman, MD, PhD

Arch Dermatol. 1967;96(4):441-452.

Abstract
A technique for accurately measuring transepidermal water diffusion in vivo depends upon electrically monitoring the changing humidity of a stream of dry air passed through a skin chamber. The test is performed on skin in which the sweat glands have been pharmacologically inactivated.

The rate of diffusional water loss was found to be 0.2 to 0.3 mg/hr^-1 cm^-2 for most areas of the human trunk. The loss is constant for any given area under standard ambient conditions of humidity and temperature.

Considerable regional variation was noted in certain areas, even after the readings had been corrected for varying horny layer thickness and expressed as diffusion constants. Compared with that of the back, the diffusion constant is four times greater on the forehead, nine times greater on the back of the hand, and one hundred times greater through the palm.

Vasoconstriction, vasodilation, or whealing in the underlying dermis did not influence diffusive water loss. Removing the horny layer by stripping with cellophane tape abolished the barrier, increasing water loss 50-fold.

Sodium lauryl sulfate and dimethyl sulfoxide directly altered the horny layer, immediately increasing outward water diffusion. Superficial defatting of the horny layer had virtually no effect on water loss.

Author Affiliations
Philadelphia

From Duhring Laboratories, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia. Dr. Baker was the recipient of a Wellcome Research Travel Grant, and is now at St. John's Hospital for Diseases of the Skin, London.

Footnotes
Accepted for publication March 6, 1967.

Reprint requests to 36th and Spruce Streets, Philadelphia 19104 (Dr. Kligman).

CiteULike    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter     What's this?

THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES

Skin Response To Fabric. A Review of Studies and Assessment Methods
Hatch et al.
Clothing and Textiles Research Journal 1992;10:54-63.
ABSTRACT  

Albert Kligman--Master of Dermatology
Leyden
Arch Dermatol 1991;127:1392-1393.
ABSTRACT  

Fabric-Caused Changes in Human Skin: In Vivo Stratum Corneum Water Content and Water Evaporation
Hatch et al.
Textile Research Journal 1987;57:583-591.
ABSTRACT  

Interrelationship Between Water-Barrier and Reservoir Functions of Pathologic Stratum Corneum
Tagami and Yoshikuni
Arch Dermatol 1985;121:642-645.
ABSTRACT  

Variably Occlusive Tape Systems and the Mitotic Activity of Stripped Human Epidermis: Effects With and Without Hydrocortisone
Fisher et al.
Arch Dermatol 1978;114:727-729.
ABSTRACT  

Effects of Occlusive Tape Systems on the Mitotic Activity of Epidermis: With and Without Corticosteroids
Fisher et al.
Arch Dermatol 1978;114:384-386.
ABSTRACT  

Steroid Rosacea
Leyden et al.
Arch Dermatol 1974;110:619-622.
ABSTRACT  

Ichthyosiform Dermatoses: III. Studies of Transepidermal Water Loss
Frost et al.
Arch Dermatol 1968;98:230-233.
ABSTRACT