Change of Skin Barrier Function According to Stratum Corneum Removal by Tape Stripping

Jang, Yun Hwan; Kim, Hyo Jin; Sung, Hyun Chul; Kim, Do Won; Lee, Weon Ju; Na, Gun Yoen

Abstract

BACKGROUND
The major function of the skin is to prevent loss of water and electrolytes and transepidermal penetration of harmful materials. The stratum corneum is known to play a major role in the skin barrier function. Tape stripping (TS) with adhesive cellophane tape is one of the best method of removing the stratum corneum on the skin surface, and has been used in studies of the skin barrier function when investigating material distribution in the stratum corneum and transepidermal absorption of drugs. OBJECTIVE: This study was performed to evaluate the skin barrier function according to removal of the stratum corneum by TS. METHOD: Six vitiligo patients who had undergone autologous suction blister grafting were tested. Transepidermal water loss (TEWL) was measured on the normal skin of the buttocks in each patient after every fifth TS, plus on the skin where the entire epidermis had been removed by autologous suction blister grafting. We compared these two values and also examined morphological change of the stratum corneum after TS, by both light and electron microscope. RESULTS: The TEWL value slightly increased when TS was carried out up to 30 times, but greatly increased to 20g/m2h of TEWL when TS was done 30-40 times. Thereafter, no increase in TEWL was observed when TS was carried out up to 100 times. The pattern of TEWL according to numbers of TS approximately plotted a sigmoid curve. On average, there was about 88% impairment to the skin permeability barrier function after TS. When the TEWL increased to more than 70g/m2h over baseline TEWL, the stratum corneum was almost removed, as revealed by light and transmission electron microscope. CONCLUSION: The stratum corneum acts as a major skin barrier, and the mid to lower portion of the entire stratum corneum appears to play a significant role in the skin permeability barrier function.