title: The effects of water exposure on biophysical properties of normal skin.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Water exposure is an influential factor in some common dermatoses. It has also been shown that water has an effect on barrier function and biophysical properties of skin. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of water immersion on biophysical properties of normal skin.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty healthy volunteers participated in this study. The volar aspect of volunteer's forearm was immersed in tap water for 30 min a day for five consecutive days. Biophysical skin parameters including TEWL, skin pH, capacitance, erythema and sebum content were measured using specific probes before and after the exposure and compared with unexposed other forearm as control.
  
  
  RESULTS
  TEWL and pH of the exposed forearm increased significantly after 5 days of consecutive daily exposure to water.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Water exposure increases the TEWL and pH of normal skin. Future studies evaluating the durability of the increased TEWL through monitoring the time course of events following skin immersion in water and susceptibility of skin to chemical irritants are required.
authors: Center for Research & Training in Skin Diseases & Leprosy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Hygenic & Cosmetic Products Research Center, Food & Drug Organization, Ministry of Health, Treatment & Medical Education, Tehran, Iran.
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Firooz
authors: N
authors: N
authors: Aghazadeh
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Rajabi Estarabadi
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Hejazi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D025802:Electric Capacitance; D017097:Electric Impedance; D006801:Humans; D007101:Immersion; D008875:Middle Aged; D012016:Reference Values; D012629:Sebum / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000187:drug effects; D012867:Skin / Q000737:chemistry*; D012869:Skin Absorption / Q000187:drug effects*; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014870:Water Loss, Insensible / Q000187:drug effects*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D014867:Water
keywords: erythema; melanin; pH; sebum; skin hydration; transepidermal water loss; water