Karen Marie Menard

Dye exclusion as a means to measure wetness protection of human skin

Background/purpose: Excessive skin hydration from occlusive coverings such as absorbent articles, bandages, etc. has been known to compromise the skins barrier properties. Damage to the stratum corneum occurs from prolonged exposure to wetness and limited product breathability, which reduces evaporation. Protection from wetness may be imparted by barrier materials, such as lotions and ointments on the skin. Barrier materials are traditionally applied by hand from bulk containers (bottle or tube). In recent years, diapers have been made that contain barrier ointments designed to transfer to the skin during wear. The purpose of this research was to develop a reliable in vivo method for evaluating skin wetness protection when using personal products.