Titre du document / Document title

A new method to measure in vivo human skin hydrophobia

Auteur(s) / Author(s)

ELKHYAT A. ⁽¹⁾ ; AGACHE P. ⁽¹⁾ ; ZAHOUANI H. ^{(1 2)} ; HUMBERT Ph. ⁽¹⁾ ;

Affiliation(s) du ou des auteurs / Author(s) Affiliation(s)

⁽¹⁾ Laboratoire d'Ingénierie et de Biologie Cutanée - Service de Dermatologie 1, CHU, 25030 Besançon, FRANCE
⁽²⁾ Ecole Centrale de Lyon, 69131 Ecully, FRANCE

Résumé / Abstract

Until now, the wettability of the skin has been only estimated through the measurement of its critical surface tension (Zisman), or surface free energy, These methods give information on the behaviour of the surface with water, but cannot quantify its behaviour with other polar liquids. In this paper we propose to express both the hydrophilia of the skin (Hi) by the ratio of its critical surface tension (γ_c) to the water surface tension (γ_H2O), and its hydrophobia (Ho) by the ratio of the difference between the critical surface tension (γ_c), and the value of the water surface tension (γ_H2O) normalized by the latter. By using this proposed parameter, it should be possible to classify skin surfaces according to their affinities to water, which is of major importance in Cosmetology as well as in biology. We also discuss the relationship between surface hydrophilia (Hi) and polarity (P) as defined by Wu, and water adhesion tension (τ_o) as described by Vogler. The γ_c of untreated skin was 27.3 ± 3.6 mJ m^-2, confirming previous data, and consequently basal Hi was 38%. Either cleaning with ether or hydration by occlusion induced a diminution of the wetting capacity of the surface and consequently a decrease of Hi to 29% and 33%, respectively. In contrast, washing the skin surface with soap and water increased surface Hi to 43%.

Revue / Journal Title

International journal of cosmetic science   ISSN 0142-5463   CODEN IJCMDW 

Source / Source

2001, vol. 23, n^o6, pp. 347-352 (25 ref.)

Langue / Language

Anglais

Editeur / Publisher

Blackwell Science, London, ROYAUME-UNI  (1979) (Revue)

Mots-clés anglais / English Keywords

Human ; Forearm ; Free energy ; Hydrophily ; Surface tension ; Wettability ; Skin ; Surface properties ;

Mots-clés français / French Keywords

Homme ; Avant bras ; Energie libre ; Hydrophilie ; Tension superficielle ; Mouillabilité ; Peau ; Propriété surface ;

Mots-clés espagnols / Spanish Keywords

Hombre ; Antebrazo ; Energía libre ; Hidrofilia ; Tensión superficial ; Remojabilidad ; Piel ; Propiedad superficie ;

Localisation / Location

INIST-CNRS, Cote INIST : 19046, 35400010000959.0040