THERAPEUTICAL NOTES   

Giornale Italiano di Dermatologia e Venereologia 2002 August;137(4):281-6

Copyright © 2002 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: Italian

Corneometer researches confirm the efficacy of a new product containing ceramide 3, cholesterol and fatty acids in the treatment of secondary cutaneous xerosis. Results of a pilot study

Amato L., Mei S., Gallerani I., Moretti S., Fabbri P.

Clinica Dermatologica II Dipartimento di Scienze Dermatologiche Università degli Studi di Firenze, Firenze

Background. Cutaneous xerosis is a frequent clinical pattern, characterized by dry skin, rough to the touch, with a little desquamation and often with thin and superficial fissures. Aim of this paper is to evaluate the moisturizing capacity of a cosmetic product, containing ceramide 3, cholesterol, palmitic and oleic acid, in the treatment of secondary xerosis.
Methods. The study has been carried out in a group of 15 (5 with allergic contact dermatitis, 5 with irritative contact dermatitis, 5 with atopic dermatitis) and in a control group of 10 healthy subjects of the same age and sex, with a corneometer evaluation (CM420). Corneometer measurements was executed on the back of the hands and on the deltoid area, applying 3 mg/cm2 of the product. Cutaneous hydratation at baseline and at 30, 60, 180 min and 48 hrs after the application of the cosmetic product was controlled.
Results. The cosmetic product examined was able to increase with statistically significance the corneometer values in the examined cutaneous areas after only 30 minutes. These values were significantly high after 180 min, and then they tended to basal values after 48 hrs, being still significant.
Conclusions. This preliminary research shows that the optimal moisturizing property of the cosmetic product studied, is probably related to the presence of ceramide 3 cholesterol, palmitic and oleic acid and to the semi-occlusive effect obtained with the use of solid paraffin nanoparticles (diameter <1 nm).