Hydration studies on scaly hand eczema

Transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and electrical conductance by a high-frequency (3.5 MHz) method were measured in 20 patients with chronic scaly hand eczema. Eczematous skin was compared with uninvolved skin of the same anatomical region. TEWL of eczematous skin was increased in all patients. In contrast, the conductance was decreased in all patients except for one, who showed equal values in pathological and uninvolved skin. This indicates that the water-holding capacity of eczematous skin is reduced. There was no correlation between clinical grading of scaling, and TEWL and electrical conductance. TEWL and conductance were not correlated, and the 2 methods are therefore supplementary for assessment of eczema and scaling. TEWL may be useful for monitoring the primary effect of therapy, and conductance for the final documentation of healing.