Tape strips have been used widely in dermatology research as a minimally-invasive method to sample the epidermis, avoiding the need for skin biopsies. Most research has focused on epidermal pathology, such as atopic eczema, but there is increasing research into the use of tape strips in other dermatoses, such as skin cancer and the microbiome. This review summarises the technique of tape stripping, and discusses which dermatoses have been studied by tape stripping and alternative minimally-invasive sampling methods. We review the number of tapes strips needed from each patient and the components of the epidermis that can be obtained by tape stripping. With a focus on protein and RNA extraction, we address the techniques used to process tape strips. There is no optimal protocol to extract protein, as this depends on the abundance of the protein studied, its level of expression in the epidermis and its solubility. Many variables can alter the amount of protein obtained from tape strips, which must be standardised to ensure consistency between samples. No study has compared different RNA extraction techniques, but our own experience is that RNA yield is optimised by using 20 tape strips and the use of a cell scraper.

Tape Strips in Dermatology Research

The invention relates to a halogenated salicylanilide selected from niclosamide and oxyclozanide, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or hydrate thereof, for use in topical anti-inflammatory treatment of one or more clinical signs or symptoms of an inflammatory skin condition in a subject, wherein the one or more clinical signs or symptoms are associated with an abnormal inflammatory response, and the topical anti-inflammatory treatment modulates expression in lesional skin of one or more immune effectors selected from proinflammatory mediators and skin barrier molecules.

Treatment of inflammatory conditions

Therapeutic mitigation of epithelial infection

The present invention is related to novel methods for identifying a population of subjects that are at risk for developing of atopic allergic diseases, such as atopic dermatitis, and to the prevention and treatment of these allergic diseases.

Evgeny Berdyshev

Papers

Lipid Abnormalities and Association with Atopic Allergic Diseases

Applicability of Skin Tape Stripping Methodology In Conjunction With LC-MS/MS To Detect Topical Emollients and Drugs Used in Atopic Dermatitis