Atopic Dermatitis Accelerates Skin Physiological Functional Decline and Visible Aging, Suppressed by Skincare Habits

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is an inflammatory skin disorder that causes barrier dysfunction and chronic itching; patients exhibit more obvious age-related external changes than healthy individuals. Detailed comparative investigations of patients with AD and healthy individuals are lacking, including visible age, skin physiological function, and inflammatory and immune factors in the stratum corneum.

To investigate the skin physiological function, physiologically active substances in the stratum corneum, and visible age of patients with AD and healthy controls (HCs), and to verify the effects of skincare habits.

This study was conducted from November to December 2023 and included male and female patients with AD and HCs aged 20-50 years. Skincare habits were assessed using a questionnaire, physiological function by device measurements, physiologically active substances using multiplex analysis, and visible aging by comparison with age- and sex-matched patients with AD and HCs.

Compared with those in the HC group, the cheek skin of the AD group was darker, had a higher melanin index, lower stratum corneum water content, higher transepidermal water loss, higher levels of inflammatory and immune factors in the stratum corneum, and less sebum on the forehead skin surface. Additionally, the AD group appeared older than their age-matched HC group. However, skincare habits improved these changes, with no significant difference between the HC and AD groups following skincare habits.

Skincare habits can suppress AD-associated changes in the physiological function of the skin, inflammatory and immune factors in the stratum corneum, and visible aging.