Skin Barrier Integrity with Fatty Acids Theory

[Guide]

"There is increasing evidence that sebaceous fatty acids play a role in the maintenance of skin barrier integrity. We have shown for the first time that patients with PPR have an abnormal sebaceous fatty acid composition, with reduced levels of long chain saturated fatty acids. These new findings may have therapeutic implications for the development of sebum-modifying nonantibiotic treatments for patients with PPR." [1]

If you can think of a better title for this theory, I am all ears. 

This new theory that the skin barrier breakdown may be the culprit that causes rosacea is discussed in a paper written by Flavia Alvim Sant'Anna Addor who has a private clinic in Brazil. Dr. Addor concludes, "Rosacea is a complex dermatosis, with inflammatory, neural and vascular mechanisms, in which environmental factors can interfere negatively or positively in its evolution. Improvement of the barrier function can significantly reduce symptoms, since, besides helping to reduce inflammation, it can decrease the interaction with substances with irritate potential. These two factors are fundamental in improving the symptomatology of patients with rosacea."

"The role of the skin as a physical barrier is important to the innate immune system. In various chronic inflammatory cutaneous diseases, such as rosacea, atopic dermatitis, and psoriasis, disturbances in the epidermal barrier are thought to represent the major contributing factor in pathogenesis." [2]

If you are interested in this subject, you might want to read the answer I posed to Tom Busby, SD expert at RF, who chimed in on this subject.  

ElaineA in the same thread at RF question to Tom pointed out that "Cholesterol Esters were higher, Squalene levels were lower, Skin PH was too high and moisture levels were low in the Group with Demodicosis vs. the normal skin group" in a clinical paper from Turkey. 

This may be related to the Epidermal Barrier Dysfunction. 

Would appreciate any of you who are interested to please, post in this thread your thoughts on this theory.  

End Notes

[1] Br J Dermatol. 2012 Feb;166(2):279-87. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2133.2011.10662.x.
The fatty acid profile of the skin surface lipid layer in papulopustular rosacea.
Ní Raghallaigh S, Bender K, Lacey N, Brennan L, Powell FC.

[2] Int J Mol Sci. 2016 Sep; 17(9): 1562.
Published online 2016 Sep 15. doi:  10.3390/ijms17091562, PMCID: PMC5037831
Rosacea: Molecular Mechanisms and Management of a Chronic Cutaneous Inflammatory Condition
Yu Ri Woo, Ji Hong Lim, Dae Ho Cho, and Hyun Jeong Park, Chris Jackson, Academic Editor

Fatty acids image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons