Influence of finishing textile materials on the reduction of skin irritations.
BACKGROUND
An increasing number of people is reported to have sensitive skin. Consequently, the development of textile materials with comfortable wearing properties has become a major interest. One method to create a pleasant sensation of textile materials on the skin is to coat them with silk proteins. This technologically complex procedure requires both optimization and control.


METHODS
The present study was aimed to characterize the subjective perception of different textiles and to objectively assess their influence on skin morphology with non-invasive optical techniques like optical coherence tomography (OCT), laser scanning microscopy (LSM) and optical surface profilometry (OP). Furthermore, optical methods were used to characterize surface properties of different textile fabrics.


RESULTS
In the present study it could be shown that optical non-invasive methods, as applied in cosmetology and dermatology are suited to characterize the structural properties of fabrics and the effects that textile materials have on the skin. Here, both unfinished textile materials and fabrics finished with silk protein coating were investigated by OCT, LSM and OP. In addition, volunteers were interviewed about their subjective sensation when these fabrics were in contact with their skin.


CONCLUSIONS
The study showed that optical methods could be applied to compare textile materials in vitro, which permit the wearing comfort to be predicted and in vivo perception on the skin.
Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Department of Dermatology, Venerology and Allergology, Center of Experimental and Applied Cutaneous Physiology, Berlin, Germany.
Helene
H
Strese
Monika
M
Kuck
Rainer
R
Benken
Joachim W
JW
Fluhr
Sabine
S
Schanzer
Heike
H
Richter
Martina C
MC
Meinke
Jürgen
J
Beuthan
Christian
C
Benderoth
Gottfried
G
Frankowski
Wolfram
W
Sterry
Jürgen
J
Lademann
D000328:Adult; D003020:Clothing / Q000009:adverse effects; D003877:Dermatitis, Contact / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D008875:Middle Aged; D009757:Nylons / Q000009:adverse effects; D011091:Polyesters / Q000009:adverse effects; D047011:Silk / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012882:Skin Tests; D013499:Surface Properties; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013784:Textiles / Q000009:adverse effects*; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence; D055815:Young Adult
D009757:Nylons; D011091:Polyesters; D047011:Silk