title: Review of methods used for quantifying excess water in over-hydrated skin using evaporimetry.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Advances in diapers and skin barrier products are often aimed at reducing water penetration of the skin to prevent diaper dermatitis and evaporimetry has commonly been measured to quantify excess water in the skin. The aim of this study was to critically review the methods used to measure water vapour flux density (WVFD) using evaporimetry in order to identify a standardised methodology.
  
  
  METHODS
  We used MEDLINE (1980-2008) and hand searching to identify published papers that used evaporimetry to measure WVFD when the skin has been exposed to water/saline/urine. We compared the papers with respect to subjects, sites, methods of hydrating the skin, the conditions of logging, timing and analysing the evaporimetry data.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We identified 10 papers. Methods and techniques for measuring WVFD and analysing data varied considerably between studies and it was not possible to identify a standardised method. The main sources of error and variation are discussed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Little work has been carried out to establish the optimum methods and techniques needed to minimise variation in measurements of WVFD using evaporimetery. There is a need to develop more robust, standardised methods and to demonstrate their reliability for further work.
authors.affiliation: Continence Technology and Skin Health Group, School of Health Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK. mf@soton.ac.uk
authors.forename: Mandy
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fader
authors.forename: Sinead
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Clarke-O'Neill
authors.forename: W K Rebecca
authors.initials: WK
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: Bo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Runeman
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Farbrot
authors.forename: Alan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cottenden
mesh_terms: D003963:Diaper Rash / Q000378:metabolism*; D041381:Diapers, Infant; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D012869:Skin Absorption; D023422:Skin Irritancy Tests / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D014867:Water / Q000378:metabolism*; D014870:Water Loss, Insensible
chemical_list: D014867:Water