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Background: Instrumentation technology for transepidermal water loss measurements has not been substantially modified since its introduction by Nilsson in 1977. Recent progress in sensor development allowed a new sensor arrangement using a matrix of 30 sensors. Raw measurement values are processed with spatial statistical analysis. We aimed to compare the new, multi‐sensor probe (Tewameter TM Hex) with the established Tewameter TM 300 probe and to gain reference data for the new parameters of transepidermal energy loss and water vapor concentration on skin. Material and methods: Baseline measurements and repeated measurements on the volar forearm and assessment on eight different anatomical locations were performed on 24 healthy volunteers (both gender) with the TM Hex and the TM 300. Results: A significant correlation (p < 0.001; R‐coefficient = 0.9) between TM Hex and the TM 300 with a low coefficient of variance (CV) 11% for TM Hex and 19% for TM 300, could be assessed. The CV ranged between 7% (right inner upper arm) and 14% (palms). Average transepidermal heat loss ranged from 12 W/m2 on the lower leg to 38.8 W/m2 on the palm. Conclusion: The correlation between TM Hex and TM 300 along with the robustness of the measurements with the TM Hex shows that the new probe for assessment of epidermal barrier function is comparable to the TM 300. In most conditions, TM Hex provides more accurate measurements than TM 300. New parameters open the field to studying skin's water and energy balance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The early detection of skin cancer is still challenging and calls for objective, fast diagnostic, and ideally non‐invasive methods in order to leave the potentially malignant tumor cells unaltered. In this paper, the parelectric spectroscopy was applied to evaluate the potential of a non‐invasive detection of basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and malignant melanoma. Materials and Methods: A prototype of parelectric spectroscopy was used to investigate non‐invasively dipole density and mobility of suspicious skin lesions. The differences in investigated tissue were analyzed compared to pathohistological findings in a clinical study on 51 patients with suspected BCC and malignant melanoma. Results: The non‐invasive parelectric spectroscopy could differentiate between normal skin, BCC, and melanoma but failed to distinguish between different types of skin cancer. The data were normalized to unsuspected nearby skin because the different skin locations influence dipole density and mobility. Conclusion: The results of the pilot study indicate that the parelectric spectroscopy might be an additional, useful non‐invasive diagnostic procedure to distinguish between normal skin and skin cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background The monitoring of wound-healing processes is indispensable for the therapeutic effectiveness and improved care of chronic wounds. Histological sections provide the best morphological assessment of wound recovery, but cause further tissue destruction and increase the risk of infection. Therefore, it is reasonable to apply a diagnostic tool that allows a non-invasive and reliable observation of morphological changes in wound healing. Methods Optical coherence tomography ( OCT) is an imaging technique for in vivo evaluation of skin diseases with a resolution close to histopathology. The aim of this study was to investigate whether OCT is suited to display the phases of wound healing. For this purpose, six patients with chronic wounds were objectively characterized by OCT during a period of 2 weeks. Results Comparable results between histological findings and OCT were achieved. OCT allowed the detection of partial loss of the epidermis, vasoconstriction, vasodilatation and epithelialization. Conclusion Consequently, OCT could be a potential non-invasive diagnostic tool for the characterization and monitoring of cutaneous wound-healing processes over time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background An increasing number of people is reported to have sensitive skin. Consequently, the development of textile materials with comfortable wearing properties has become a major interest. One method to create a pleasant sensation of textile materials on the skin is to coat them with silk proteins. This technologically complex procedure requires both optimization and control. Methods The present study was aimed to characterize the subjective perception of different textiles and to objectively assess their influence on skin morphology with non-invasive optical techniques like optical coherence tomography ( OCT), laser scanning microscopy ( LSM) and optical surface profilometry ( OP). Furthermore, optical methods were used to characterize surface properties of different textile fabrics. Results In the present study it could be shown that optical non-invasive methods, as applied in cosmetology and dermatology are suited to characterize the structural properties of fabrics and the effects that textile materials have on the skin. Here, both unfinished textile materials and fabrics finished with silk protein coating were investigated by OCT, LSM and OP. In addition, volunteers were interviewed about their subjective sensation when these fabrics were in contact with their skin. Conclusion The study showed that optical methods could be applied to compare textile materials in vitro, which permit the wearing comfort to be predicted and in vivo perception on the skin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/objectives: One phenomenon of skin aging is loss of cutaneous elasticity. Measurement of cutaneous resonance running time (CRRT) is a method to assess skin elasticity. Yet, information regarding the directional changes of CRRT associated with age, body sites and gender is not yet available. In the present study, we assessed whether changes in CRRT vary with age, body sites and gender in a normal Chinese population. Methods: A Reviscometer was used to measure CRRTs in various directions on the left dorsal hand, the forehead and the left canthus of 806 normal Chinese volunteers, aged 2.5-94 years. Results: With aging, CRRTs decreased in all directions on the hand, the forehead and the canthus. A more dramatic reduction in CRRTs on the forehead and the canthus was observed in both the 2-8 and the 3-9 o'clock directions. CRRTs in males aged 11-20 years were longer than those in females in some directions on all three body sites. Females aged between 21 years and 40 years showed longer CRRTs than males in some directions of the hand. There were no gender differences in subjects aged 0-10 (except on the canthus) and those over 80 years old. Conclusion: CRRTs vary with age, body sites and gender. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS) irritation test is a well-established model for irritant contact dermatitis after the effects of surfactants. The course of changes in corneometric measurements (stratum corneum hydration), in transepidermal water loss (TEWL), in laser Doppler measurements (epidermal perfusion) and in colorimetric measurements (skin redness), after a single SLS irritation, should be studied over time. Twenty healthy volunteers were studied. Irritation with 1% SLS solution was applied to the side of one forearm for 24 h under occlusive conditions, while the symmetrical experimental site remained untreated. Measurements were made for 9 days after completion of SLS irritation. Stratum corneum hydration was reduced immediately after irritation, and subsequently a hyper-hydration was observed. The increase in TEWL, laser Doppler measurements and skin redness persisted for 7–9 days. With regard to skin redness, a mild blanching effect was noticeable after 9 days. The evidence of very short-term exsiccation of the stratum corneum with persistent barrier damage, as well as reactive hyper-hydration and blanching of the skin, is remarkable. These first findings suggest that exsiccation of the stratum corneum is not caused by a damage to barrier lipids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is well known that the damaging effect of surfactants on the stratum corneum varies according to the surfactant used. The present investigations aim to compare four standard commercial cleansing solutions (Esemptan® Cleansing Lotion, Stephalen® Shower Gel, Manipur® Antimicrobial Cleansing Solution and Tork® Mevon 55TM Liquid Soap) with respect to their cleansing and skin barrier-damaging effects. The cleansing effect of the solutions was determined in relation to their concentrations in a first experimental series involving 15 subjects using a standardised test method. The product concentrations with the most divergent cleansing effects were tested for their dehydrating (corneometry), epidermal barrier-damaging (TEWL) and irritating effects (laser Doppler) in a standardised washing test. In a second experimental series, the concentration used for the cleansing solutions was based on the quantity of cleansing solution obtained from dispenser actuations (six actuations/L). These concentrations were used to test the cleansing and damaging effect on the stratum corneum using the same methods as in the first experimental series. There were no significant differences in the first experimental series. In the second experimental series, Stephalen® Shower Gel showed disadvantages in terms of a small cleansing effect, but without evidence of a smaller stratum corneum-damaging effect, and Tork® Mevon 55TM Liquid Soap showed advantages in terms of a smaller stratum corneum-damaging effect, but without evidence of a smaller cleansing effect. These studies showed that the relationship between the cleansing and the damaging effect on the stratum corneum can be properly assessed only by testing different concentrations. Furthermore, this experimental approach allowed to differentiate the four tested cleansing solutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Discusses several facts about standardized washing models. Characteristics of surfactants in modern cleansing products; Mechanisms that induce the dermatological effects of surfactants; Approaches used in washing protocols; Comparison between home application and controlled laboratory application.