Skin-on-Chip and Clinical Evaluation of a natural topical treatment supporting barrier function and itch relief

MIVO^® skin-on-chip was used to reproduce chronic itch conditions linked to subtle skin barrier failure.
Stratified human skin tissues were cultured in the MIVO^® platform under physiological perfusion, mimicking in vivo conditions.
Substance P was applied to trigger neurogenic inflammation and simulate the itch–inflammation cycle. A natural non-steroidal formulation (NF) was evaluated and compared to a standard corticosteroid reference.
In the substance P–induced setting, the NF formulation significantly reduced leukotriene B4 release—matching the anti-inflammatory effect of the corticosteroid—without relying on steroid-mediated pathways.
These skin-on-chip findings were confirmed in a prospective observational study on subjects with dry, erythematous, pruriginous skin. After 7–14 days of topical NF application, showed improved barrier function, increased hydration, reduced erythema, and subjective itch relief—without adverse events.
The results support the Barrier-First Pruritus Modulation (BFPM) theory: non-steroidal topical strategies can effectively break the itch cycle by stabilizing the skin microbiome–barrier interface, offering a steroid-free alternative with a distinct, barrier-centric mechanism of action.
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• • • Conference: Probiota 2026, Dublin
    • Authors: K Gianesin¹, E. Palamà², M. Aiello^2,3, S. Scagione^2,3