Beneficial effects of pseudoceramide-containing physiologic lipid mixture as a vehicle for topical steroids

Among the various adverse effects of topical corticosteroids, impairment of the epidermal permeability barrier is well-known. Decreased synthesis of the epidermal lipid consequently leads to structural defects of the stratum corneum. Recently, the beneficial effects of physiologic lipid mixtures containing pseudoceramide on the impaired epidermal permeability barrier have been reported, which suggest that physiologic lipid mixtures may reduce the topical glucocorticoid-induced barrier impairment. In this study, the effect of a pseudoceramide-containing physiologic lipid mixture as a vehicle for a mid-potency topical glucocorticoid was evaluated in an oxazolone-induced atopic dermatitis-like murine model. The changes in transepidermal water loss, hydration and skin fold thickness were measured. Inflammatory cells in the dermis, including eosinophils, were counted and Staphylococcus aureus binding assay was performed. Immunohistochemical staining for inflammatory cytokines and antimicrobial peptides were also performed. The topical steroid in physiologic lipid mixture showed a significantly decreased infiltrate of inflammatory cells (p<0.05) and a reduced number of adherent Staphylococcus aureus compared with the results of the topical steroid in polyethylene glycol/ethanol vehicle (p<0.05). In conclusion, the pseudoceramide-containing physiologic lipid mixture as a vehicle for a topical steroid enhanced the anti-inflammatory effect of the topical steroid and accelerated the skin barrier function restoration.