Synopsis Two long-term trials were conducted each over eight weeks to compare the effect of the regular application of skin cleansing preparations of pH 5.5 and pH 8.5 and pH 5.5 and pH 7.0 respectively on the surface pH, roughness and transepidermal water loss (TEWL) of normal human forehead and forearm skin. Both trials were based on a cross-over design: five healthy volunteers started with a pH 5.5 preparation and switched to the other after four weeks, five additional volunteers used the preparations in the opposite order. While the skin surface pH was markedly lower in those individuals using the pH 5.5 preparation at each examination, as compared to those using the pH 8.5 or pH 7.0 preparation, no such difference could be established with respect to skin roughness and TEWL. Hence the skin irritancy of a cleansing preparation does not seem to be linked to its pH within the pH ranges tested.
Eczema craquelé can be induced by repeated open application of a topical glucocorticoid, viz. 0.05% clobetasole 17-propionate cream. This might not be invariably due to the active component. Comparison of the skin surface roughness as assessed by profilometry and as expressed by RZDIN showed a decrease after repeated open application of 0.1% betamethasone 17-valerate cream and 0.25% prednicarbate cream, but an increase following the vehicle of the latter preparation. Thus commercial oil-in-water emulsion preparations seem to be potentially injurious to human skin, though this may be masked when a glucocorticoid is added.
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