No alteration of biophysical parameters in the skin of subjects with respiratory atopy

Background: Skin hyperreactivity to environmental factors in patients with atopic dermatitis has been extensively studied. Conversely, little is known on the biophysical parameters of the skin in patients with respiratory allergy. Objective and Methods: Functional characteristics of the skin in subjects with allergic asthma and/or rhinitis were studied using evaporimetry, capacitance and pHmetry. Data were compared to those of healthy subjects and patients with atopic dermatitis (AD). Results and Conclusions: Our results suggest that the skin of patients with atopic respiratory allergy does not show altered biophysical parameters when compared to normal skin, confirming that the functional alterations in AD skin are linked to the expression of the atopic diathesis in the skin.