The benefits of emollients for eczematous dermatitis and psoriasis have been thought to be due to the improvements in epidermal function, including epidermal permeability barrier, stratum corneum hydration, and stratum corneum pH. We determined here whether emollient can direct inhibit cutaneous inflammation. Ear inflammation was induced by topical application of either 12‐O‐tetradecanoylphorbol‐13‐acetate (TPA) or 1‐fluoro‐2,4‐dinitrofluorobenzene (DNFB). Either 1% hydrocortisone cream or the novel emollient was applied to the right ear of the mice 45 min and 2 hours after TPA or DNFB application. The untreated left ear served as untreated controls. Both ear weight and ear thickness were measured 24 hours after TPA and DNFB application. Topical applications of either hydrocortisone cream or emollient significantly decreased both ear thickness and ear weight in comparison to untreated controls. In DNFB model, hydrocortisone significantly lowered expression levels of mRNA for IL‐1α, IL‐1β, and TNFα, while the emollient markedly decreased expression levels of IL‐1α and TNFα mRNA. In TPA model, both hydrocortisone and emollient significantly decreased expression levels of IL‐1α, IL‐1β, IL‐6, and TNFα mRNA. In parallel, inflammatory infiltration was also reduced by topical applications of either hydrocortisone or emollient. These results demonstrate that this novel emollient can directly inhibit cutaneous inflammation in murine models of both acute irritant contact dermatitis and acute allergic contact dermatitis. However, whether this emollient could also alleviate eczematous dermatitis in humans remains to be explored.

Purpose: Intense pulsed light (IPL) treatment may cause transient erythema, dryness, and barrier dysfunction, highlighting the need for effective postprocedural care. This study aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of a fibronectin-containing skincare regimen in restoring skin barrier function and relieving these IPL-related manifestations. Patients and Methods: In this 28-day, split-face study, 32 healthy female participants undergoing IPL treatment applied a fibronectin-containing serum to one side of the face and a control serum to the opposite side. Skin hydration, transepidermal water loss (TEWL), erythema, and radiance were evaluated at baseline, immediately post-IPL, and on days 3, 7, and 28. Results: Compared to the control, the fibronectin-treated side showed significantly greater improvements in skin hydration (P < 0.01) and significantly lower TEWL on days 3 (P < 0.05), 7 (P < 0.01), and 28 (P < 0.01). By days 7 and 28, skin radiance and erythema also improved more significantly (P < 0.01). Both dermatologist and participant assessments confirmed the superior efficacy of the fibronectin serum. No adverse events were rePorted. Conclusion: Post-IPL aPPlication of a fibronectin-containing serum effectively imProves skin hydration, reduces barrier dysfunction and erythema, and enhances radiance with good tolerability. These findings suPPort its Potential utility in Post-IPL skincare regimens.

Background: Although it is known that epidermal biophysical properties vary with age and gender, the changes in epidermal biophysical properties over the time from baby to adolescence have not been elucidated yet. In the present study, we assessed the trend of changes in transepidermal water loss rates (TEWL), stratum corneum hydration, and skin surface pH in Chinese children. Participants and methods: A total of 780 boys and 610 girls, aged 1 month to 17‐year old, were enrolled in this study. TEWL and stratum corneum hydration on the forearm and the shin were measured with GPSkin Barrier, whereas skin surface pH was measured with portable skin pH meter. Results: Overall, TEWL and stratum corneum hydration levels decreased, whereas skin surface pH increased in children from 1‐month old to 17‐year old. Significant decline in TEWL was observed on both the forearm and the shin of girls, and the shin of boys aged 13–17‐year old. Similarly, marked decline in stratum corneum hydration levels started at ages of 6–12‐year old. In contrast, decline in skin surface pH was observed in both girls and boys aged one to 12‐month old except on the forearm of boys. Afterward, skin surface pH remained either stable or slight increase except on the shin of boys aged >12 months to 3‐year old. Conclusions: These results demonstrate that both TEWL and stratum corneum hydration levels decrease, whereas skin surface pH increases in children aged 1 month to 17‐year old. The changes in these biophysical properties vary with age, gender, and body site.

Introduction: Although it is well known that epidermal function changes with aging, the transcriptomic basis and possible signaling pathways for aging-associated functional changes remain largely unknown. Methods: Here, we employed RNA sequencing techniques to assess epidermal gene expression profiles in the epidermis of mice aged 1, 2, 6, 12 and 20 months. Results: A total of 132 genes displayed reductions in expression levels with aging, while expression levels of 406 genes increased with aging. Epidermal gene expression was prominently upregulated in 2-month-old vs 1-month-old mice, while more genes were downregulated in 12-month-old mice. Upregulation of genes associated with immune/inflammatory responses was observed in the epidermis of aged mice in comparison to that of young mice, whereas downregulated signaling pathways in the epidermis of aged mice were primarily involved in metabolism, such as fatty acid elongation, glutathione metabolism and biosynthesis of antibiotics. Some signaling pathways, such as chemokine signaling, cytokine/cytokine receptor interaction signaling and IL-17 signaling pathways, were remarkably upregulated in 12-month-old mice. Steroid synthesis, metabolic pathway, thermogenesis and proteasome pathways were steadily downregulated, starting at 2 months old. Conclusion: These results indicate that the epidermis of aged mice displays an upregulation of genes associated with inflammatory signaling pathways, and downregulation of genes related to metabolic signaling pathways.