title: Assessment of spray application of Saint GERVAIS water effects on skin wettability by contact angle measurement comparison with bidistilled water.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The skin is responsible for protecting the body from physical, chemical and microbial injuries. The stratum corneum is the top layer of the epidermis and it plays a key role in helping to contain moisture. When the skin becomes damaged, its ability to perform these functions is compromised. Dry skin is a common form of skin damage. Contact angle 0 between a surface and water is a good indicator of hydrophobic or hydrophilic tendency of surfaces.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To quantify the influence of spray application of an isotonic mineral water (Saint GERVAIS water) on the hydrophobic tendency of dry skin and to compare spreading of both types of water on the skin through 0 measurement of each water drop on the skin before and after mineral spray application.
  
  
  METHODS
  Contact angles theta between skin surface and the two types of water (bidistilled and mineral water) were measured before and after application of mineral water by a system allowing the measurement of theta in vivo and in vitro. The cutaneous hydration, the temperature and pH were also measured before and after mineral water application.
  
  
  RESULTS
  As for the application of mineral water, the cutaneous pH significantly increased so the strong skin acidity decreased. The cutaneous temperature was modified (a decrease of 2 degrees C was noted) and the cutaneous hydration was also increased (+47AU). The hydro-phobic tendency of the dry skin tested in this study was strongly decreased after mineral water application. This parameter was illustrated by a decrease of contact angle theta value.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Saint GERVAIS water application allowed a regulation of skin pH, a fresh sensation on the skin and an increase in the cutaneous hydration. Moreover, the contact angle measurement with bidistilled water illustrated the increased wettability of the skin.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire d'ingénierie, Hôpital Saint Jacques, Besançon, France.
authors.forename: Ahmed
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Elkhyat
authors.forename: Carol
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Courderot-Masuyer
authors.forename: Sophie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mac-Mary
authors.forename: Stéphanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Courau
authors.forename: Tijani
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Gharbi
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Humbert
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D000328:Adult; D000336:Aerosols / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003358:Cosmetics / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008900:Mineral Waters / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D012869:Skin Absorption / Q000187:drug effects; D012879:Skin Physiological Phenomena / Q000187:drug effects*; D014867:Water / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D014870:Water Loss, Insensible / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology*; D017155:Wettability
chemical_list: D000336:Aerosols; D003358:Cosmetics; D008900:Mineral Waters; D014867:Water