Oral Presentation ANZBA Annual Scientific Meeting 2024

The effect of generic moisturisers on TEWL and hydration in a scar model (21034)

Tanja Klotz 1 2 , Guy Maddern 2 , Marcus Wagstaff 1 , Yugesh Caplash 1 , Hollie Moran 1 , Peter Vu 1
  1. Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, SA, Australia
  2. Surgery, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia

Scars have higher than normal trans-epidermal water loss (TEWL).(Anthonissen etal., 2013, Mustoe and Gurjala, 2011) This upregulates scar activity and is the proposed mechanism of the effectiveness of contact media.(Mustoe, 2008, Mustoe and Gurjala, 2011) Hydration of a scar is theorised to have a down-regulatory effect on the components of the skin that produce a scar.(Tandara et al., 2007, Tandara and Mustoe, 2011, Zhao et al., 2018). Moisturisers, which are recommended by clinicians in the management of scars, may have an impact on these factors.

In this study, a tape stripping method was chosen to ensure a consistent scar model and accurately record changes due to the application of different products. This method utilises the volar forearm skin of healthy volunteers to remove a thin portion of upper layer of skin, increasing the TEWL and producing a scar model.

Moisturisers were applied to the tape-stripped skin and the effects on TEWL and hydration was then measured against a control site. The selection of products for testing was based upon moisturisers frequently used, as determined by a survey of burn therapists in Australia, USA and Canada.(Klotz etal., 2017) Other products were also chosen based on their prevalence of use with scars.

The aim of this study is to provide clinicians with an understanding of how generic moisturisers affect TEWL and hydration on a scar model, thereby enabling them to make informed recommendations on which moisturisers people with scars should use. This presentation will examine and highlight the obtained results.

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