The effects of topical application of Idose on barrier recovery after barrier disruption by tape stripping were investigated. All experiments were performed on 7- to 10-week-old male hairless mice (HR-1, Hoshino, Japan). Measurement of skin barrier function, disruption of the barrier and application of test samples were carried out under anaesthesia with nembutal. Permeability barrier function was evaluated by measurement of transepidermal water loss (TEWL) with an electric moisture analyser (Meeco, Warrington, PA, USA). For barrier recovery experiments, skin on both flanks was treated by repeated tape stripping until the TEWL reached 7–10 mg ⁄ cm2 per h. Immediately after tape stripping, 100 mkm of 0.1 m aqueous solution of Idose was applied. TEWL was then measured at the same sites at 1, 3, 6 and 24 h thereafter. Barrier disruption was done between 7:00AM and 8:00AM and the barrier recovery rate was evaluated immediately, to avoid the effect of circadian rhythm.

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