Comparison of some physiological parameters in the skin between healthy children and children with atopic dermatitis

Abstract

Background: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a common chronic skin disease manifested by severe itching and skin lesion which is difÏcult to treat, does not heal completely. AD is a multifactorial, heterogenous disease that arises as a result of the interaction between both environmental and genetic factors. The pathophysiology is explained by a loss of keratinization and exfoliation of the skin, and changes in the protective function of the skin barrier and human immune system. The extreme continental climate can be an epigenetic factor that affects the loss of skin barrier, increase in TEWL, and decrease in skin moisture. Therefore, we studied the physiological parameters in Mongolian children with AD and healthy children. Aim: To determine and compare skin moisture, TEWL, skin pH in children with AD and healthy children. Materials and Methods: In the spring of 2023, we conducted a case-control study including 103 children diagnosed with atopic dermatitis in the experimental group and 104 relatively healthy children in the control group. Skin moisture, TEWL, skin pH measurements were determined in 9 specific areas of the skin surface, using the Multi skin test MC750 instrument (Courage+ Khazaka Electronic, Cologne, Germany) following the guidelines of EEMCO (European Group on EfÏcacy Measurement of Cosmetics and Other Topical Products). The data analysis was made using Microsoft Excel and Stata-14 software. Results: Of all 207 participants, 76 (36%) had very dry skin, and 131 (64%) had dry skin. The moisture in atopic dermatitis was significantly lower than in healthy children (p<0.001***). Out of a total of 207 healthy and children with atopic dermatitis who participated in the study, 76 (36%) had very dry skin and 131 (64%) had dry skin. The average index of skin moisture in healthy children was 45.47±6.85, while in children with atopic dermatitis it was 36.27±7.25, which is statistically significantly lower than in healthy children (p<0.001***). When measuring TEWL at 9 specific areas on the skin surface of all participants, was significantly higher in children with atopic dermatitis than in healthy children at 7 areas (p<0.01***). And we found skin pH is significantly higher in children with atopic dermatitis than in healthy children in most specific areas (p<0.001***). Conclusion: The skin moisture (p<0.001***) and TEWL (p<0.01***) levels of children with atopic dermatitis were significantly less than those of healthy children, so the skin of children with AD is drier than that of healthy children. The level of skin pH is higher in children with atopic dermatitis than in healthy children, indicating the need to prevent secondary infection (p<0.01***).