A moisturizer formulated with glycerol and propylene glycol accelerates the recovery of skin barrier function after experimental disruption in dogs

Abstract

Background Moisturizers are foundational therapies for human atopic dermatitis. In veterinary medicine, the use of moisturizers has been recommended by an expert committee to alleviate skin dryness that would occur, for example, in canine atopic dermatitis (cAD). However, little is known regarding the effects of moisturizers on the skin barrier. Hypothesis/Objectives To investigate the effects of a moisturizer on skin barrier recovery in a canine model of chronic mechanical barrier disruption. Animals Six healthy beagle dogs maintained in a laboratory setting. Methods and materials A model of chronic skin barrier disruption was simulated by tape stripping on both sides of the thorax. The moisturizer then was applied twice daily for one week to one side of the thorax, while the other hemithorax was left untreated. The effects were evaluated by measurement of transepidermal water loss (TEWL) at various times during skin barrier recovery, and by histological assessment of the disrupted skin one week after moisturizer application. Results Overall, TEWL was reduced, epidermal thickness was lower, stratum corneum thickness was greater and the intensity of the dermal inflammatory infiltrate was reduced for treated sites. Conclusions and clinical importance These results suggest a potential benefit of the moisturizer for improving skin barrier function, which is frequently altered in chronic inflammatory dermatoses such as cAD.

Effect of indoor house dust mite concentration on canine atopic dermatitis

“…Considering that hydrating the skin method alleviates AD symptoms in dogs, and the fact that dry skin is the main symptom of CAD ( 40 , 41 ), RH is expected to affect CAD in humans. Additionally, the inverse correlation between endotoxin and AD was previously reported in humans and dogs ( 11 , 42 ).…”

Sphingomyelin-Rich Lipid Extract Collar for Canine Atopic Dermatitis

“…The topical application of lipid-based formulations aimed at improving skin barrier dysfunction has been previously investigated in several studies in dogs [ 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 , 36 , 37 , 38 , 39 , 40 , 41 , 42 , 43 ]. These interventions have shown some positive effects on skin health, and they are normally delivered in the form of a spot-on or a shampoo presentation.…”

“…The topical application of lipid-based formulations aimed at improving skin barrier dysfunction has been previously investigated in several studies in dogs [32][33][34][35][36][37][38][39][40][41][42][43]. These…”

Primary Prevention of Canine Atopic Dermatitis: Breaking the Cycle—A Narrative Review

“…Comparatively, in cAD, TP corresponds to the treatment of flares, or "reactive therapy"; SP corresponds to the prevention of flares, or "proactive therapy"; and PP corresponds to strategies or interventions that are implemented to avoid the development of the disease altogether. However, while there is extensive research to develop and improve existing treatments [7,27,28,30,33,35,[39][40][41][42][43] and even to develop proactive strategies [21,44], cAD primary prevention is entirely neglected. Despite Marsella (2013) suggesting that skin barrier repair interventions could prove beneficial when initiated in early life in cAD's predisposed breeds [45], research on these strategies has not been pursued.…”

“…Furthermore, a previous study showed that an essential fatty acid supplementation had a steroid-sparing effect in atopic dogs, which could be explained by a possible skin barrier improvement [110]. Although extensive research exists on strategies directed at the external skin surface to improve skin barrier function in cAD management [1,14,28,39,67,[111][112][113][114][115][116][117][118][119][120][121][122][123][124], there are, as yet, no studies on cAD prevention to the authors' knowledge.…”