Sea water or its components alter experimental irritant dermatitis in man.
OBJECTIVE
Ocean bathing has been considered "healthy" for skin, but its efficacy remains testimonial in nature. Our aim was to evaluate the effects of sea water and its main components on experimental irritant contact dermatitis induced by sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS) cumulative irritation.


METHODS
After open application of 2% SLS for 10 min on volar forearm sites, solutions of sea water, 500 mM NaCl, 10 mM KCl, 55 mM MgCl2, 10 mM CaCl2, or deionized water were separately applied using filter paper discs for 20 min. The procedures were repeated daily for 2 weeks. The effects of the treatment were assessed daily using measurements of transepidermal water loss (TEWL), as an indicator of epidermal barrier function, and capacitance, as a parameter of stratum corneum water content.


RESULTS
Sea water, NaCl, and KCl significantly inhibited the increase of TEWL as compared with deionized water (P < 0.003, P < 0.05, P < 0.05, respectively). Sea water and NaCl inhibited the decrease of capacitance as well (P < 0.03, P < 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
The effect of sea water may be attributed to skin barrier preservation by NaCl and KCl, and an emollient effect by NaCl.
Yoshizawa
Y
Y
Department of Dermatology, School of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA.
Tanojo
H
H
Kim
S J
SJ
Maibach
H I
HI
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D017449:Dermatitis, Allergic Contact / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004553:Electric Conductivity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012623:Seawater; D012967:Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate; D014870:Water Loss, Insensible
D012967:Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate