Skin penetration of minerals in psoriatics and guinea-pigs bathing in hypertonic salt solutions.
Penetration of electrolytes through the human skin was measured in healthy volunteers and in psoriatic patients after bathing in the Dead-Sea or in simulated bath-salt solutions. Significant increases in the levels of serum Br, Rb, Ca and Zn were noticed only in the psoriatic patients after daily bathing in the Dead-Sea for a 4-week regimen. Guinea-pigs "bathed" in simulated Dead-Sea bath-salt solutions containing radionuclides of Ca, Mg, K and Br. Traces of each radionuclide were detected in the blood and in some internal organs after 60 minutes of bathing. The radionuclides showed a physiological pattern in their organ distribution. Even though the whole investigation was carried out in hypertonic solutions, there is a definite penetration of salts through healthy (human and guinea-pigs) and damaged (psoriatic) epidermis. This finding suggests that improvement of the psoriatic condition after bathing in the Dead-Sea, may be partly attributed (in addition to ultraviolet irradiation) to the minerals' effect on the psoriatic skin.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D004573:Electrolytes / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008900:Mineral Waters; D008903:Minerals / Q000378:metabolism*; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000628:therapy; D012462:Saline Solution, Hypertonic / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012869:Skin Absorption; D013997:Time Factors
D004573:Electrolytes; D008900:Mineral Waters; D008903:Minerals; D012462:Saline Solution, Hypertonic