Transepidermal water loss with and without sweat gland inactivation

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Abstract
The influence of eccrine sweating on transepidermal water loss (TEWL) was investigated. TEWL was simultaneously measured on both forearms, with and without topical inactivation of the eccrine sweat glands by 0.3 ml of 0.5% aqueous scopolamine hydrobromide (HBr), applied under 1 h occlusive patches. The degree of sweat inhibition, after exercise, was measured at 2, 3 and 4 h after patch removal. In 42 out of 44 subjects, complete sweat inhibition (on exercise) was achieved only at 4 h after removal. After a 15-min rest in a room at 20°C, the pre-exercise TEWL values (at 4 h) on the treated and untreated sites were not different (P>0.05), in 38 out of 44 subjects. By this rest period, sweating due to slight physical, thermal or even emotional stimuli may be prevented in most subjects. In the other 6 subjects, the pre-exercise TEWL values (at 4 h) on the untreated site were 1–1.8 g/m2h higher than (P < 0.001) on the treated site, due to emotional sweating Thus, accurate baseline TEWL measurements may only be made after anticholinergic suppression of the sweat glands. In this way, accurate TEWL measurements may be made even outside favourable laboratory conditions, all industrial sites etc., where circumstances are far from ideal. The effect of this agent applied to a skin site previously irritated artificially by a 24-h occlusive sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS, 0.3 ml, 0.5% aq.) patch, was also investigated in 17 subjects. In all subjects, 4h after removal, sweating (on exercise) was completely inhibited on the scopolamine-treated site, pre-irritated with SLS. Systemic side-effects were not reported from any test subject, under any condition of exposure.