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Barrier repair in chronic plaque-type psoriasis
Anthony Teik-Jin Goon1, Gil Yosipovitch, Yiong-Huak Chan
1National Skin Centre, Singapore, Singapore. anthonygoon@nsc.gov.sg
Summary
Psoriatic skin shows impaired barrier function but retains normal barrier repair capabilities. This study compared skin barrier function in psoriasis patients versus healthy controls.
Area of Science:
- Dermatology
- Skin Barrier Research
- Psoriasis Pathophysiology
Background:
- The skin barrier is crucial for maintaining hydration and preventing pathogen entry.
- Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease characterized by epidermal abnormalities.
- Understanding skin barrier function in psoriasis is key to developing effective treatments.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess and compare the barrier repair capacity of lesional psoriatic skin after mild trauma.
- To evaluate differences in barrier function between involved psoriatic skin, non-involved psoriatic skin, and healthy control skin.
Main Methods:
- Transepidermal water loss (TEWL) measurements were conducted on three groups: involved psoriatic skin, non-involved psoriatic skin, and normal control skin.
- TEWL readings were taken at baseline, immediately after 20 tape strippings (mild trauma), and one week post-stripping to assess recovery.
Main Results:
- Psoriatic-involved skin exhibited significantly higher baseline, post-stripping, and 1-week recovery TEWL compared to non-involved and control skin.
- Despite higher TEWL, the rate of barrier recovery in lesional psoriatic skin was not significantly different from non-involved or control skin.
Conclusions:
- Lesional psoriatic skin demonstrates a compromised barrier function compared to non-lesional and healthy skin.
- The intrinsic barrier repair mechanism in lesional psoriatic skin remains fully functional, indicating potential for therapeutic intervention targeting barrier restoration.