Description:
<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title><jats:sec><jats:title>Background</jats:title><jats:p>The filaggrin gene (<jats:italic>FLG</jats:italic>) plays a role in skin diseases, with the skin barrier function being impaired in <jats:italic>FLG</jats:italic> null carriers. The role of <jats:italic>FLG</jats:italic> status in relation to nickel penetration into the skin remains unclear.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Objectives</jats:title><jats:p>To elucidate the association between <jats:italic>FLG</jats:italic> status and nickel penetration into stratum corneum (SC) in individuals without self‐reported history of nickel allergy.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Methods</jats:title><jats:p>Forty participants (23 <jats:italic>FLG</jats:italic> wt and 17 <jats:italic>FLG</jats:italic> null) were exposed to a nickel solution (80 μg/cm<jats:sup>2</jats:sup>) which was applied onto 2 × 2 cm on their left forearm. After 4 h, the area was tape‐stripped with 10 consecutive tapes. Nickel in each tape was quantified using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Results</jats:title><jats:p>The average recovered nickel dose was 35%–48%. A tendency towards lower recovery was seen in <jats:italic>FLG</jats:italic> null carriers compared to <jats:italic>FLG</jats:italic> wt carriers, and lower recovery in those with history of skin and/or respiratory symptoms compared to those without such history. This was however not statistically significant.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Conclusion</jats:title><jats:p><jats:italic>FLG</jats:italic> null carriers had less nickel recovered by tape strips compared with <jats:italic>FLG</jats:italic> wt carriers and, compared with individuals without a history of skin and/or respiratory symptoms, indicating higher nickel penetration into SC for <jats:italic>FLG</jats:italic> null carriers, but further studies are needed.</jats:p></jats:sec>