Barrier recovery after topically applied desoxymethasone ointment, vaseline and hydrobase on benzalkonium chloride-irritated hairless mice skin

Background: Topical irritants disrupt the cutaneous permeability barrier through the removal of stratum corneum lipids. This perturbation of barrier integrity stimulates a variety of homeostatic repair responses that ultimately result in the normalization of barrier function. Object: To measure the effect of desoxymethasone ointment, vaseline and hydrobase on the barrier recovery of benzalkonium chloride (BKC) irritated skin. Materials and methods: The left flank skin of 2-3 month-old hairless mice was treated with BKC and then desoxymethasone ointment, vaseline and hydrobase were applied. Transepidermal water loss (TEWL) was checked after 0, 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21 and 24 hours. Electron microscopic examination was performed after 3 and 24 hours after desoxymethasone, vaseline and hydrobase had been applied. Results: The recovery of TEWL was most prominantly observed in the desoxymethasone ointment treated group followed by vaseline and hydrobase. Electron microscopic examination using ruthenium tetroxide fixation revealed that secretion and numbers of lamellar bodies and complete formation of lipid bilayers were most prominent at desoxymethasone ointment and vaseline treated group. Conclusion: Desoxymethasone ointment, vaseline and hydrobase can be good agents in improving barrier recovery after exposure to irritant material.