Assessment of effects of an additional dietary natural mineral water uptake on skin hydration in healthy subjects by dynamic barrier function measurements and clinic scoring.
OBJECTIVE
The skin protects the body's organs and tissues from damage and physical, chemical and bacteriological injuries. It also prevents the transcutaneous loss of water. The present study was conducted to assess the effects of additional dietary natural mineral water uptake on skin hydration and cutaneous well-being in subjects with dry skin.


METHODS
Eighty subjects (44 women and 36 males, mean age 56+/-5.6 years) were included in the study, randomised per forearm and stratified by gender. Skin surface hydration, transepidermal water loss (TEWL), sorption-desorption test, skin colour, thickness and micro-relief were evaluated on the forearms. Clinical scoring of dryness, roughness and elasticity was performed by a dermatologist.


RESULTS
An improvement of skin hydration was observed after additional water uptake, statistically modifying the hydration level as well as TEWL, the water-binding capacity of the uppermost layers of the stratum corneum. Improvements of softness, smoothness and skin-moisturising effect were perceived by healthy subjects, and skin micro-relief was improved.


CONCLUSIONS
We suggest that natural mineral water supplementation may be used in order to improve the hydration of skin dryness as a complementary cosmetic approach.
Mac-Mary
S
S
Département de Dermatologie, Laboratoire d'Ingénierie et de Biologie Cutanées, Université de Franche-Comté, Hôpital Saint Jacques, Place Saint Jacques, F-25030 Besançon Cedex, France.
Creidi
P
P
Marsaut
D
D
Courderot-Masuyer
C
C
Cochet
V
V
Gharbi
T
T
Guidicelli-Arranz
D
D
Tondu
F
F
Humbert
P
P
D001834:Body Water / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005542:Forearm; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008900:Mineral Waters / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D012016:Reference Values; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D012879:Skin Physiological Phenomena / Q000187:drug effects
D008900:Mineral Waters