Application of a Novel and Noninvasive Skin Sampling Technique for Analyzing Cytokine-Mediated Inflammation in Rosacea

A novel Sebutape™ skin sampling technique was recently developed and has been applied to the noninvasive study of skin inflammation. Using a simple procedure of Sebutape application and removal from the skin, we have previously detected changes in the profiles of cytokine adsorption from various forms of compromised skin and scalp, including, diaper dermatitis, UV exposed skin, surfactant-treated skin, dandruff, and seborrheic dermatitis. In the current study, we applied this method to the analysis of the chronic skin disorder, rosacea, a condition characterized by inflammation, but for which little is know about the inflammatory process, including the role of cytokines. Sebutape samples were collected from involved and noninvolved (control) facial skin sites of subjects with active rosacea of varying severity. These samples were compared with other samples obtained from the facial skin of normal subjects. The rosacea skin sites were characterized by significantly elevated recoveries of the cytokine, interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1RA) and also showed significantly elevated ratios of IL-1RA/interleukin-1α, when compared to either the noninvolved facial skin sites of the same subjects or to the skin of the normal subjects. These results are very consistent with those from our earlier studies and further support the utility of this method as the first truly noninvasive technique for diagnostic assessment of skin inflammation.