Pediatria pre prax 5/2014

Epidermal barrier and its significance in healthy and atopic skin

The paper discusses the importance of epidermal barrier (EB) to the function of the skin and to the genesis of atopic dermatitis (AD). It highlights the immaturity of EB in chidren. It is mentioned factors, which involved in the epidermal hydratation and in imunological defense of external influences. It focuses to the role of EB in AD. It is confirmed, that the key point od the damaged EB is the defected filagrin. Defected filagrin in combination with the reduced level of defensins leads to the change of microbioma and to the tendency to bacterial infection. It explains the influence ofSt.aureus in patogenesis of AD. For the effective treatment of AD is necessary to restore EB using the suitable emolliens and topical anti-inflammatory substances.

Keywords: epidermal barrier, morphological characters of the skin in premature and mature newborns and adults, function of EB, epidermal hydratation, nature hydrophilic factors, filagrin, lipoidic bilayers, imunological defense, atopic dermatitis, microbioma, Staphylococcus aureus, ceragenins.