Recent studies have demonstrated that PS decreases epidermal proliferation and differentiation, impairs permeability barrier homeostasis, and decreases stratum corneum integrity. PS also increases the production of endogenous glucocorticoids (GC), and both systemic and topical GC cause adverse effects on epidermal structure and function similar to those observed with PS. We therefore hypothesized that increased endogenous GC in PS mediates its adverse cutaneous effects. To test this hypothesis, we used two independent approaches, administering either RU-486, a GC receptor antagonist that inhibits GC action, or antalarmin, a corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) receptor antagonist that prevents increased GC production in the face of PS. Inhibition of either GC action or production prevents the PS-induced decline in epidermal cell proliferation and differentiation, impairment in permeability barrier homeostasis, and decrease in stratum corneum (SC) integrity. Moreover, the pathophysiological basis for the abnormality in permeability barrier homeostasis; i.e., decreased lamellar body production and secretion, is restored toward normal by inhibition of GC action. Similarly, the mechanistic basis for the decrease in SC integrity, i.e., a reduction in corneodesmosomes, is also normalized by inhibition of GC action. Thus many of the adverse effects of PS on epidermal structure and function can be attributed to increased endogenous GC and conversely, approaches that either reduce GC production or action might benefit cutaneous disorders that are provoked or exacerbated by PS.RU-486; corticotropin-releasing hormone; stratum corneum integrity; barrier homeostasis PSYCHOLOGICAL STRESS (PS) is well recognized to provoke, exacerbate, or propagate many cutaneous dermatoses, including psoriasis and atopic dermatitis (20,31,35). Many of the disorders that are adversely affected by PS are also associated with abnormal permeability barrier function (17, 18). Studies in both rodents and human have demonstrated that PS perturbs permeability barrier homeostasis. While basal permeability barrier function is normal, the kinetics of barrier recovery following acute barrier disruption are delayed (2,7,8,16). This delay in barrier recovery is accounted for by a decrease in the production and secretion of lamellar bodies (LB) (5) with a resultant decrease in the formation of the extracellular lamellar membranes that mediate epidermal permeability barrier function (10). Epidermal lipid synthesis is essential for providing the lipids required for the formation of LB (11). Accordingly, the decrease in LB secretion in PS animals is explained by a decrease in epidermal lipid synthesis (5). Of note, the abnormality in barrier homeostasis induced by PS can be normalized by the topical applications of a mixture of barrier lipids, which normalize LB formation and secretion (5).In addition to adversely effecting barrier homeostasis, PS also decreases keratinocyte proliferation, impairs epidermal differentiation, and decreases stratum corneum (SC) ...