Skin provides critical barrier properties that enable terrestrial life. Myriad research has focused on the “water barrier” to transepidermal water loss (TEWL) despite there being a multitude of skin barrier properties. We asked what other barrier properties may have been overlooked and compiled data demonstrating the “electrolyte barrier” to be of clinical relevance. Specifically, data summarized within this review demonstrate that the percutaneous egression of ions, or the outward diffusion of ions through skin, is a useful marker of assessing skin barrier function; experimental damage to skin in vivo or ex vivo frequently induced increased ion flux rates through the epidermis, in addition to expected increases to TEWL values. Interestingly, barrier perturbation did not always result in a concomitant rise in TEWL with increased transepidermal ion flux rates, indicating a distinction between the two barriers. Quantifying the percutaneous egression of ions in response to physical or chemical alterations therefore offers additional data into barrier status that may not be captured with TEWL studies, exclusively. Continued efforts should be made to 1) advance this technique as a method of assessing skin status, and 2) enhance our understanding of other barriers and mechanisms.

ESDR154 - Percutaneous egression of ions as a marker of skin barrier function?

50th Annual Meeting of the European Society for Dermatological Research. VIRTUAL MEETING