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2. Measurement of Skin Barrier Function using the Impedance Method
Nao Wakabayashi1, Rei Ogawa1, Takafumi Kubo2, Satoshi Akaishi1, Tetsuji Iwasaki2, Hiko Hyakusoku1
1:Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery, Nippon Medical School, Tokyo, Japan
2:Medical Engineering Research Laboratory, ALCARE Co., Ltd.
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Trans epidermal water loss (TEWL) is an index of skin barrier function. In recent days, impedance methods have also been used to evaluate skin barrier function. Thus, in this paper we tested a new device to measure skin barrier function using the impedance method on keloids and normal skin of 10 patients. All of the keloids (upper arm, back, anterior chest wall, and lower jaw) indicated between 20 and 60, although control normal skin indicated around 10. Electronic microscopic analysis revealed increasing intercellular space in the keloids only. It was suggested that the increasing intercellular space of keratinocytes in keloids are related to the high value measured for skin barrier function. In the future, this device may be utilizable for evaluating strength of inflammation, progression of keloids, and the differential diagnosis between keloids and hypertrophic scars. |
