Abstract: PENG Wan-qing*, XU Feng, YAN Shu-xian, ZHU Jian-feng, XU Jin-hua. *Department of Dermatology, Affiliated Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200040, China Corresponding author: XU Jin-hua, Email: xjhhuashan@yahoo.com.cn 【Abstract】 Objective To evaluate skin barrier function in children with atopic dermatitis （AD） as well as healthy children from two communities in Shanghai and to assess the relationship between skin barrier function and AD severity. Methods Totally, 169 children with AD and 142 healthy children aged 3 － 12 years were recruited from two communities （Changning Xining community and Jiading Juyuan community） in Shanghai, China. Transepidermal water loss （TEWL） and stratum corneum hydration were measured in normal appearing non-lesional skin at four body sites （dorsal and volar forearm, cheek and anterior shin） of the patients, as well as in normal skin at the same sites of the controls. AD severity was evaluated by using the severity scoring of atopic dermatitis （SCORAD） index. Results Compared with the healthy children, the patients with AD showed higher TEWL value at all of the four body sites （all P < 0.05）, but lower water content in stratum corneum at dorsal forearm and anterior shin （both P < 0.05）. In patients with AD, the SCORAD index was positively correlated with mean TEWL value, but negatively correlated with the mean water content in stratum corneum. Conclusion Skin barrier function may serve as an index for evaluating the severity of AD.