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The effect of essential fatty acids on epidermal atrophy due to topical steroids
Author(s) -
OLIWIECKI S.,
ARMSTRONG J.,
BURTON J. L.,
BRADFIELD J.
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
clinical and experimental dermatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.587
H-Index - 78
eISSN - 1365-2230
pISSN - 0307-6938
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2230.1993.tb02208.x
Subject(s) - atrophy , dermatology , medicine , chemistry , endocrinology
Summary The effect of topical n‐6 essential tatty acids in the form of evening primrose oil on the epidermal atrophy caused by a potent topical steroid was studied in 24 normal volunteers by measuring epidermal thickness and cross‐sectional area and by histological examination. Epidermal thickness and cross‐sectional area were significantly lower in normal forearm skin treated with 0·1% betamethasone valerate twice daily without occlusion for 3 weeks when compared with placebo‐treated skin. The addition of evening primrose oil to the topical steroid did not prevent steroid‐induced epidermal atrophy suggesting that steroid‐induced epidermal atrophy is not mediated by the inhibition of essential fatty acid release from cell membranes