engleski

The significance of skin barrier in contact dermatitis

The skin acts as a protective and regulatory barrier between the body and the environment. The main barrier function resides in the outermost layer of the epidermis, stratum corneum (SC) which is composed of anucleated flattened cells corneocytes, bound to each other by corneodesmosomes and embedded in a lipid matrix. The interior of the corneocytes is filled with keratin filaments aggregated by a filaggrin protein providing mechanical strength to the skin. Filaggrin contributes furthermore to the hydration of the SC owing to hygroscopic properties of its degradation products which are main constituents of the natural moisturizing factor. Reduced levels of filaggrin due to genetic variations in the filaggrin gene play an important role in the etiology of atopic dermatitis (AD), an inflammatory skin disease with reduced barrier function and a dry skin as major hallmarks. AD and filaggrin gene mutations predispose for contact dermatitis (CD), which emphasizes the importance of the skin barrier in the CD pathogenesis. For irritant contact dermatitis (ICD), skin barrier damage is the main etiological factor, while in allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) skin barrier impairment is considered as an important triggering factor. Maintenance of the competent skin barrier is therefore vital in the prevention and therapy of contact dermatitis.

skin barrier function ; natural moisturizing factors, FLG mutations, contact dermatitis

nije evidentirano