Publication Date:
2015-12-22
Description:
Background It remains to be elucidated whether exposure to air pollutants aggravates atopic dermatitis (AD). Objective This study aimed to evaluate the effect of exposure to formaldehyde for 1 hour and 2 hours on skin barrier function in both the control and the AD groups. Methods In 41 patients with AD and 34 healthy children, a provocation test was performed in which two different areas of normal-appearing skin on the forearm were stimulated with airborne formaldehyde at 500 μg/m 3 or placebo for 2 hours. We measured transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and skin pH, and calculated the percent change from baseline. Results Exposure to formaldehyde increased TEWL in the control group (P 〈 0.001; median of difference: 1.4; interquartile range: 0.9, 1.6) and in the AD group (P 〈 0.001; median of difference: 2.5; interquartile range: 2.0, 3.6). The percent change of TEWL after formaldehyde exposure in the AD group was higher than the control group (P 〈 0.001), whereas exposure to placebo showed no differences between both groups. The AD group also demonstrated a higher percent increase in skin pH after exposure to formaldehyde than the control group (P 〈 0.001). Conclusion Short-term exposure to formaldehyde causes skin barrier dysfunction in both healthy children and children with AD, and this effect is more prominent in children with AD. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Print ISSN:
0007-0963
Electronic ISSN:
1365-2133
Topics:
Medicine
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