Research Summary
Background: Moisturizers are foundational therapies for treating human atopic dermatitis. In veterinary medicine, the use of moisturizers has been recommended by an expert committee to alleviate skin dryness that occurs, for example, in canine atopic dermatitis (cAD). However, little is known about the effects of moisturizers on the skin barrier in veterinary patients.
Hypothesis/Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the effects of a moisturizer on skin barrier recovery in a canine model of chronic mechanical barrier disruption.
Animals: The study involved six healthy beagle dogs maintained in a laboratory setting.
Methods and Materials: A model of chronic skin barrier disruption was simulated by tape stripping on both sides of the thorax. The moisturizer was applied twice daily for one week to one side of the thorax, while the other side was left untreated. The effects were evaluated by measuring transepidermal water loss (TEWL) at various times during skin barrier recovery and by conducting a histological assessment of the disrupted skin one week after moisturizer application.
Results: Overall, the treated sites showed a reduction in TEWL, lower epidermal thickness, greater stratum corneum thickness, and a reduced intensity of dermal inflammatory infiltrates compared to untreated sites.
Conclusions and Clinical Importance: These results suggest that the moisturizer may improve skin barrier function, which is frequently compromised in chronic inflammatory dermatoses such as cAD.
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