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Peer-reviewedCC BY-NCSkin pharmacology and physiology

Efficacy of Topical Emollients on Skin Biophysical Properties and Inflammatory Markers in Stasis Eczema.

  • Jo Aan Goon1
  • Adawiyah Jamil2
  • Imran Al-Jameel3
  • Siti Liyana Saud Gany3
  • Wei Ney Yap4
  • Hsieu Yen Loong5
  • Yee Wei Ung5
5 affiliations
  1. 1Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, KualaLumpur, Malaysia, [email protected].
  2. 2Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, KualaLumpur, Malaysia.
  3. 3Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, KualaLumpur, Malaysia.
  4. 4Research and Development Department, Davos Life Science, Singapore, Singapore.
  5. 5Research and Development Department, KL-Kepong Oleomas, Selangor, Malaysia.
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Abstract

Introduction

Stasis eczema is a chronic inflammatory skin condition commonly associated with chronic venous insufficiency and represents a significant clinical burden. Emollients are widely used to improve skin hydration and barrier function; however, their effects on inflammation and skin remodeling in stasis eczema remain unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of a topical emollient on skin barrier integrity and systemic inflammatory markers in affected patients.Methods

Fifty patients with stasis eczema were randomized to receive either a topical emollient or placebo for 6 weeks. Skin parameters, including melanin content, hydration, and transepidermal water loss, were assessed using Tewameter. Plasma levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, IL-1β, TNF-α), anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10, and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs: MMP-1, MMP-2, MMP-3, and MMP-9) were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay at baseline and after treatment.Results

Baseline clinical assessment demonstrated a high prevalence of comorbidities, particularly hypertension, chronic venous insufficiency, diabetes mellitus, and dyslipidemia. No statistically significant changes were observed in skin barrier parameters or circulating cytokine levels following 6 weeks of treatment. MMP-1 and MMP-2 concentrations remained stable in both groups. However, posttreatment MMP-3 levels were significantly higher in the emollient group than in the placebo group, while MMP-9 demonstrated a significant within-group change in the placebo group only.Conclusion

Short-term use of a topical emollient may help maintain skin barrier function and systemic inflammatory status but does not appear to produce clinically meaningful improvements in most skin barriers or inflammatory parameters, despite isolated significant changes observed in specific MMP biomarkers in patients with chronic stasis eczema. These findings highlight the complexity of disease management in this population and suggest that longer treatment durations, larger sample sizes, consideration and statistical adjustment for baseline comorbidities are warranted in future studies.

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Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@article{goon2026efficacy,
  title = {{Efficacy of Topical Emollients on Skin Biophysical Properties and Inflammatory Markers in Stasis Eczema.}},
  author = {Jo Aan Goon and Adawiyah Jamil and Imran Al-Jameel and Siti Liyana Saud Gany and Wei Ney Yap and Hsieu Yen Loong and Yee Wei Ung},
  journal = {Skin pharmacology and physiology},
  year = {2026},
  month = oct,
  doi = {10.1159/spp/aetag006},
  url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42858311},
  note = {CC BY-NC},
}
RIS
TY  - JOUR
TI  - Efficacy of Topical Emollients on Skin Biophysical Properties and Inflammatory Markers in Stasis Eczema.
AU  - Jo Aan Goon
AU  - Adawiyah Jamil
AU  - Imran Al-Jameel
AU  - Siti Liyana Saud Gany
AU  - Wei Ney Yap
AU  - Hsieu Yen Loong
AU  - Yee Wei Ung
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/10/10
JO  - Skin pharmacology and physiology
DO  - 10.1159/spp/aetag006
UR  - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42858311
AB  - Introduction  Stasis eczema is a chronic inflammatory skin condition commonly associated with chronic venous insufficiency and represents a significant clinical burden. Emollients are widely used to improve skin hydration and barrier function; however, their effects on inflammation and skin remodeling in stasis eczema remain unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of a topical emollient on skin barrier integrity and systemic inflammatory markers in affected patients.Methods  Fifty patients with stasis eczema were randomized to receive either a topical emollient or placebo for 6 weeks. Skin parameters, including melanin content, hydration, and transepidermal water loss, were assessed using Tewameter. Plasma levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, IL-1β, TNF-α), anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10, and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs: MMP-1, MMP-2, MMP-3, and MMP-9) were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay at baseline and after treatment.Results  Baseline clinical assessment demonstrated a high prevalence of comorbidities, particularly hypertension, chronic venous insufficiency, diabetes mellitus, and dyslipidemia. No statistically significant changes were observed in skin barrier parameters or circulating cytokine levels following 6 weeks of treatment. MMP-1 and MMP-2 concentrations remained stable in both groups. However, posttreatment MMP-3 levels were significantly higher in the emollient group than in the placebo group, while MMP-9 demonstrated a significant within-group change in the placebo group only.Conclusion  Short-term use of a topical emollient may help maintain skin barrier function and systemic inflammatory status but does not appear to produce clinically meaningful improvements in most skin barriers or inflammatory parameters, despite isolated significant changes observed in specific MMP biomarkers in patients with chronic stasis eczema. These findings highlight the complexity of disease management in this population and suggest that longer treatment durations, larger sample sizes, consideration and statistical adjustment for baseline comorbidities are warranted in future studies.
SN  - 1660-5527
SN  - 1660-5535
ER  -