Skin barrier responses to moisturizers: Functional and biochemical changes

Abstract

Moisturizers are used in various types of dry skin disorders, but also by people with healthy skin. It is not unusual to find the continued use of moisturizers for weeks, months, or even years. Long-term use of moisturizers may strengthen the barrier function of the skin, but also deteriorate it and induce skin dryness. Moisturizers have also been shown to have a significant impact on skin biochemistry, detectable at the molecular level. Further understanding of the mechanism by which long-term treatment with moisturizers influences the skin barrier, from both a functional and biochemical perspective, would have clinical implications, as barrier-deteriorating creams may enhance penetration of allergens or irritants and predispose to dry skin and eczema, while barrier-improving ones could reduce many problems.