Use of the Reviscometer for measuring cosmetics-induced skin surface effects.
OBJECTIVE
The Reviscometer RVM600 that measures resonance running time (RRT) has been shown to be inversely related to the skin stiffness. However, very few publications describe the use of this instrument for testing the effect of cosmetic products.


METHODS
Slight xerotic skin condition was induced by using an alkaline soap for 1 week. Skin has then been rehydrated with a lotion or further dehydrated and dried with sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS). Skin condition at the different stages of the study was evaluated by visual assessment for dryness and redness and by non-invasive methods (Corneometer, Cutometer, Reviscometer, Evaporimeter and squamometry).


RESULTS
All methods showed highly significant changes after the slight drying phase with the soap usage. They illustrated skin repair after lotion treatment and further skin impairment after SLS application. Nevertheless, the Reviscometer was able to better statistically discriminate between the treatments (water, lotion, SLS) than the Cutometer . Measurement of the RRT along the transversal axis of the forearms was the most sensitive for differentiating between normal and dry skin and between the treatments on the basis of skin mechanical properties.


CONCLUSIONS
The Reviscometer RVM600 is a sensitive instrument able to detect slight skin surface effect of cosmetics. Combined with published literature on the interpretation of RRT measurements on polymeric gel or in different skin conditions (elderly skin and photoaged skin), the Reviscometer looks to be a recommendable instrument to measure slight changes in SC stiffness/suppleness induced by cosmetic products.
Paye
M
M
Colgate-Palmolive R&D, Milmort, Belgium. marc_paye@colpal.com
Mac-Mary
S
S
Elkhyat
A
A
Tarrit
C
C
Mermet
P
P
Humbert
P H
PH
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003358:Cosmetics / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D003880:Dermatology / Q000295:instrumentation*; D004548:Elasticity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012867:Skin / Q000187:drug effects*; D012879:Skin Physiological Phenomena / Q000187:drug effects*; D012882:Skin Tests / Q000295:instrumentation*; D013718:Tensile Strength; D014783:Viscosity; D014867:Water
D003358:Cosmetics; D014867:Water