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Epidermal proliferative response induced by sodium dodecyl sulphate varies with environmental humidity
Author(s) -
Denda M.
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
british journal of dermatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.304
H-Index - 179
eISSN - 1365-2133
pISSN - 0007-0963
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-2133.2001.04342.x
Subject(s) - humidity , stratum corneum , transepidermal water loss , hairless , relative humidity , chemistry , sodium , medicine , pathology , biochemistry , physics , organic chemistry , thermodynamics
Background Previous studies have suggested that susceptibility of skin to external agents increases in the dry winter season. Objectives To test the hypothesis that environmental humidity affects skin sensitivity to irritants. Methods The epidermal hyperplasia induced by sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS) under various humidity conditions was evaluated on the skin of hairless mice. Results Mice kept under low humidity for 2 days showed more obvious epidermal proliferation 24 h after topical application of SDS than those kept under high or normal humidity for 2 days. In contrast, mice kept under high humidity for 2 weeks showed more obvious epidermal proliferation 24 h after topical application of SDS than those kept under low or normal humidity. The transepidermal water loss was altered significantly in the animals kept under high humidity for 2 weeks, although it was not altered during the first 7 days under either low or high humidity. Conclusions These results suggest that environmental humidity influences the sensitivity of skin to topical application of SDS and that increased sensitivity is not always associated with alteration of the water impermeability of the stratum corneum.