Disrption of the epidermal permeability barrier causes an immediate loss of the calcium gradient and barrier recovery is parallel with restoration of the calcium gradient in the epidermis. To clarify the effect of petrolatum and Tegaderm after acute barrier perturbation, we studied calcium distribution and transpidermal water loss(TEWL) in the epidermis of hairless mice treated with acetone followed immediately by occlsuion with petrolgtum and Tegaderm. Recovery of TEWL was delayed Tegaderm treated skin and in skin treated with Tegaderm after pertolatum as compared to control skin after disruption of barrier. However we could not find any remarkable difference in TEWL recovery between skin to which petrolatum had been applied after the acetone and skin treated only with acetone. The recovery rate of TEWL was similar in Tegaderm treated skin and Tegaderm after petrolatum treated skin. There were some differences in epidermal calcuim gradient recovery after the barrier disruption between aceton treated skin, skin with petrolatum application after acetone treatment, skin with Tegaderm applicaiton after acetone treatment and skin with Tegaderm application after petrolatum application following acetone treatment. But the differences were not so
remarkable. In conclusion Tegaderm delayed TEWL recovery. But we need more studies to clarify the different effects of petrolatum and Tegaderm in calcium distribution.