title: Application of optical methods to characterize textile materials and their influence on the human skin.
abstract: The skin is not only the largest organ of the human body, but it is also a barrier to the environment. The major part of the human skin is in constant contact with textile materials. The objective of this study was to characterize textile materials and to investigate their influence on the skin properties. For this purpose, two different textile materials (polyamide and polyester) were objectively characterized by optical coherence tomography and surface structure 3D-profilometry. In addition, subjective textile properties like haptic sensation and stiffness, as tactile characteristics felt by volunteers, were analyzed. The objective textile characteristics and subjective parameters were compared to the barrier properties measured by in vivo laser scanning microscopy . Comparable results were achieved between barrier properties and subjective assessment in relation to the textile characteristics in favor of the polyester fabric. Consequently, the optical method used in dermatology for the analysis of the skin can be applied to characterize and evaluate textile fabrics and their interaction with human skin in vivo.
authors.affiliation: Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Department for Dermatology, Venerology and Allergology, Center of Experimental and Applied Cutaneous Physiology, Berlin D-10117, Germany.
authors.forename: Helene
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Strese
authors.forename: Monika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kuck
authors.forename: Rainer
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Benken
authors.forename: Sabine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Schanzer
authors.forename: Heike
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Richter
authors.forename: Joachim W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Fluhr
authors.forename: Martina C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Meinke
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Benderoth
authors.forename: Gottfried
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Frankowski
authors.forename: Wolfram
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Sterry
authors.forename: Juergen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lademann
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005542:Forearm; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008422:Materials Testing; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009757:Nylons; D011091:Polyesters; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D012879:Skin Physiological Phenomena; D013499:Surface Properties; D013784:Textiles / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis*; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D009757:Nylons; D011091:Polyesters