PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide skin barrier function intensifying or improving means, which is useful for treating skin symptoms caused by deterioration of a skin barrier function and can be expected to have, for example, effects on skin allergy symptoms (particularly atopic dermatitis) and psoriasis and the like, a moisturizing effect, or an anti-keratin thickening effect.SOLUTION: A skin barrier function intensifying or improving composition is provided, containing wormwood extract in an amount of, for instance, 0.001-0.1 mass% in terms of dry mass. The composition is an external composition and enhances the expression of filaggrin gene and/or loricrin gene.SELECTED DRAWING: None【課題】皮膚バリア機能の低下に伴う皮膚症状に有用であり、例えば皮膚アレルギー症状（特にアトピー性皮膚炎）や乾癬などへの効果、保湿効果、抗角質肥厚効果などが期待できる、皮膚バリア機能増強又は改善する手段の提供。【解決手段】ヨモギエキスを含有する皮膚バリア機能増強又は改善組成物で、例えば乾燥質量換算で０．００１～０．１質量％含有し、外用組成物であり、フィラグリン遺伝子及び／又はロリクリン遺伝子の発現亢進用組成物。【選択図】なし
