ORIGINAL ARTICLES   

Giornale Italiano di Dermatologia e Venereologia 2003 June;138(3):229-35

Copyright © 2003 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: Italian

Corneometric skin hydration evaluation after use of an oily detergent

De Francesco V., Codogno S., Patrone P.

Clinica Dermatologica, Dipartimento di Patologia e Medicina Clinica e Specialistica Università degli Studi di Udine, Udine

Aim. Skin xerosis is often found in dermatology and is clinically caracterized by dryness, desquamation, roughness and sometime fissures, frequently associated to itching. The purpose of this work is to evaluate the efficacy of a shower oil in increasing the skin hydration levels in patients with xerotic skin. In particular, we analyzed the possible increase of skin hydration values after a sporadic use of the product (hospitalized patients) compared with an extensive use (ambulatorial patients). We have chosen to evaluate skin hydration after cleansing with shower oil since this is a fundamental aspect of daily hygiene and patients usually prefer it to body creams. Moreover, cleansing can also worsen or determine skin dryness if aggressive products are used.
Methods. We have evaluated 25 patiens (17 out-patients and 8 hospitalized subjects). Measurements were performed with a corneometer 825 on the extensory side of the forearm before and after the use of the bath oil. Control measurements (T0) were carried out in both groups on clean skin; subsequent assessments were done following different protocols for out patients and hospitalized patients. The former underwent a 2nd evaluation (T1) after 10 days and a 3rd one (T2) after 30 days of cleansing, while hospitalized patients were analysed at 60 (T1) and 120 (T2) minutes immediatly after cleansing.
Results. Final data have pointed out an increase in skin hydration levels due to the use of the bath oil for daily cleansing. In particular, comparison between hospitalized and out-patients has showed a major efficacy in skin hydration from an extensive use of bath oil compared with a sporadic use.
Conclusion. Our case histories, in agreement with other authors, confirm the efficacy of bath oil in the treatment of skin xerosis which can be attributed to the high lipid content of its formulation.