Journal of Clinical & Experimental Dermatology Research
Open Access
ISSN: 2155-9554
ISSN: 2155-9554
Regina Folster-Holst
University Medical Center Schleswig-Holstein, Germany
Keynote: J Clin Exp Dermatol Res
An intact epidermal barrier is essential. On the one hand it ensures hydration of the skin and on the other it prevents penetration of harmful substances from the environment like allergens, infectious agents and pollutants. There are many skin diseases showing defects of the skin barrier, which is localized in the stratum corneum and consists of protein-rich cells and a lipid-enriched intercellular space. Prime examples are atopic dermatitis and ichthyoses. Atopic dermatitis is the result of complex interactions of genetic and environmental factors, which influence the epidermal structure and function, as well as the immune system. Ichthyoses are genodermatoses characterized by scaling and in many cases also by erythroderma. We focus the epidermal barrier in atopic dermatitis, ichthyosis vulgaris and Netherton syndrome. The latter is a rare autosomal recessive disorder of cornification, characterized by the triad of ichthyosis, hair shaft anomalies and atopy. The syndrome is present at birth or soon after with generalized exfoliative erythroderma, with or without an atopic diathesis. The quality of the skin barrier can be assessed by using a new semi-quantitative method to measure intercellular lipid lamellae (lipbarvisR). We used this non-invasive skin sampling technique also to evaluate the influence of emollients and also the topical application of drugs like corticosteroid and calcineurin inhibitors. In addition, we investigate the shape of the corneocytes in the upper SC and we found that the undulation of the corneocyte membranes differs between the investigated skin types. Highly undulated corneocyte membranes were visible in Netherton syndrome, little less undulation of the corneocytes in skin samples with ichthyosis vulgaris, and a lesser extent undulation as in skin samples of AD.
Regina Folster-Holst has completed her PhD in 1984 from Christian Albrechts University, Germany. After a Medical Assistant time in a children's clinic for cystic fibrosis and allergy at Amrum, Germany in November 1985, she began her specialist training for Dermatologists at the Department of Dermatology, Kiel, Germany. In 1992, she was recognized as a Specialist in Dermatology and Allergology. Since 1992, she has been working as a Senior Physician at the University Medical Center Schleswig-Holstein, Department of Dermatology in Kiel, Germany. Her clinical activity and research priority is primarily in the area of Atopic Dermatitis, Pediatric Dermatology and Parasitosis. She has published more than 160 papers in reputed journals. Since May 2016, she is the President of the European Society for Pediatric Dermatology (ESPD).