Korean J Dermatol.  2000 Feb;38(2):176-182.

Evaluation of the Skin Barrier Function by TEWL Measurement in Hypertrophic scars and Keloids

• Park SJ
• Kim JM
• Lee CH
• Lee CJ

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Hypertrophic scars and keloids have been regarded as representative of the proliferative change of the connective tissue of the dermis. Clinically, postburn and surgical scars show a smooth, shiny, erythematous appearance at an early stage. It is readily conceivable that, in such scars, changes may take place not only in the dermis but also in the epidermis and, possibly in the stratum corneum (SC). However, in contrast to the tremendous number of studies of scars on the dermis, those studies focusing on the epidermis and the SC have been scarce.
OBJECTIVE
We have focused on the function of the SC covering the post-burn scar tissue and keloids.
METHODS
Using noninvasive bioengineering measurements of functional properties of the SC, such as transepidermal water loss(TEWL), we evaluated the SC barrier function in various types of healing wounds, such as early erythematous lesion, hypertrophic scar, keloid, healed atrophic scar, scar occurring at the recipient site of the skin grafts and the adjacent normal appearing skin for control.
RESULTS
1. The TEWL values were 14.9+/-7.3 in early erythematous lesions, 13.2+/-7.5 in hypertrophic scars, 10.2+/-5.8 in keloids, 5.6+/-1.3 in healed atrophic scars, 6.9+/-4.3 in scars occurring at the recipient site of the skin grafts. Significantly increased TEWL values were found in all individual lesions(p>0.01) except for the scars occurring at the recipient site of the skin grafts(p<0.05) compared with the corresponding normal control skin. 2. When we randomly compared early erythematous lesions, hypertrophic scars, kelids, atrophic

Keyword

Hpertrophic scars; Keloids; Transepidermal water loss(TEWL)

MeSH Terms

Bioengineering
Cicatrix
Cicatrix, Hypertrophic*
Connective Tissue
Dermis
Epidermis
Keloid*
Skin*
Transplants
Wounds and Injuries