Experimental Studies of Skin Inflammation

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Abstract
The influence of certain naturally occurring and experimentally induced stresses on experimental skin inflammation was studied daily in both hospitalized and nonhospitalized human subjects. The experimental inflammation was induced by standardized intradermal injections of 0.05cc of a dilute trypsin solution into the forearm, and measurements of the whealing response were taken to determine the magnitude of the inflammation. Mood and attitude, during the period of injection and measurement of the response, were evaluated in all subjects. Plasma corticosteroid levels were determined in 27 of these subjects. The findings indicate that males give a larger whealing response than females. Nonhospitalized females give a larger response than hospitalized tuberculous females. Differences in response in the same individual seem related to mood and attitude as well as to transient stress, with the response being lower on days of depression. A low-normal plasma corticosteroid level correlates with the greatest whealing response.