Contribution of stratum corneum in determining bio-tribological properties of the human skin

Pailler-Mattéi, C.; Pavan, Sophie; Vargiolu, R.; Pirot, Fabrice; Falson, Françoise; Zahouani, H.

doi:10.1016/j.wear.2007.01.128

Cited by 76 publications

(104 citation statements)

References 22 publications

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“…A summary of the experimental research on skin friction, given by Derler and Gerhardt [21], and recently by Veijgen [4] reveals a large range of values for the coefficient of dynamic friction [4], i.e., from 0.07 [22] to 5.0 [23]. This is also found for the coefficient of static friction [4] that ranges from 0.11 [24] to 3.4 [25].…”

Section: Modeling and Predicting Frictionmentioning

confidence: 90%

Skin tribology: Science friction?

2013

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Abstract:The application of tribological knowledge is not just restricted to optimizing mechanical and chemical engineering problems. In fact, effective solutions to friction and wear related questions can be found in our everyday life. An important part is related to skin tribology, as the human skin is frequently one of the interacting surfaces in relative motion. People seem to solve these problems related to skin friction based upon a trial-anderror strategy and based upon on our sense for touch. The question of course rises whether or not a trained tribologist would make different choices based upon a science based strategy? In other words: Is skin friction part of the larger knowledge base that has been generated during the last decades by tribology research groups and which could be referred to as Science Friction? This paper discusses the specific nature of tribological systems that include the human skin and argues that the living nature of skin limits the use of conventional methods. Skin tribology requires in vivo, subject and anatomical location specific test methods. Current predictive friction models can only partially be applied to predict in vivo skin friction. The reason for this is found in limited understanding of the contact mechanics at the asperity level of product-skin interactions. A recently developed model gives the building blocks for enhanced understanding of friction at the micro scale. Only largely simplified power law based equations are currently available as general engineering tools. Finally, the need for friction control is illustrated by elaborating on the role of skin friction on discomfort and comfort. Surface texturing and polymer brush coatings are promising directions as they provide way and means to tailor friction in sliding contacts without the need of major changes to the product.Keywords: friction; bio-tribology; skin; soft tissue; surface texture; brush coatings Skin friction in daily lifeThe application of tribological knowledge, i.e., knowledge on the science and technology of interacting surfaces in relative motion, is not restricted to optimizing mechanical and chemical engineering problems. In fact, effective solutions to tribology related questions are evident in our everyday life, as illustrated in fascinating examples described by D. Dowson's "A tribological day" [1]. An important part of the effective solutions in daily life situations is related to skin tribology, as the human skin is frequently one of the interacting surfaces in relative motion. These questions are typically related to optimizing friction and lubrication problems in skin-product interactions, rather than to optimising wear. Take for example the swimming pool or bathroom where material selection and application of anti-slip coatings prevent us from falling when the floor gets wet. Yet, if such coatings do not sufficiently increase friction, one will optimize the tribological system, e.g., by pressing our full foot to the floor and subsequently increasing the true area of contact or by chan...

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Section: Modeling and Predicting Frictionmentioning

confidence: 90%

Skin tribology: Science friction?

2013

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“…Depending on the initial stiffness of the stratum corneum and its structural geometry, the skin will produce certain types of mechanical response, particularly if one considers the presence of a liquid thin-film (e.g. shave preparation) which introduces additional complex tribophysical phenomena (Israelachvili, 2011;Pailler-Mattei et al, 2007;Pailler-Mattei et al, 2006;Pailler-Mattei and Zahouani, 2004). The application of water-based agents to the skin has a plasticising effect on the stratum corneum which drastically reduces its Young's modulus (Wu et al, 2002.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The sensitivity of the mechanical characteristics of the stratum corneum to environmental conditions, particularly relative humidity, is well established Dauskardt et al, 2006;Pailler-Mattei et al, 2007;Wu et al, 2002Wu et al, , 2006 and references therein. This phenomenon results in significant intra-sample variability of its mechanical properties.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A mechanistic insight into the mechanical role of the stratum corneum during stretching and compression of the skin

Leyva-Mendivil

Page

Bressloff

et al. 2015

Journal of the Mechanical Behavior of Biomedical Materials

109

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A mechanistic insight into the mechanical role of the stratum corneum during stretching and compression of the skin. This is a PDF file of an unedited manuscript that has been accepted for publication. As a service to our customers we are providing this early version of the manuscript. The manuscript will undergo copyediting, typesetting, and review of the resulting galley proof before it is published in its final citable form. Please note that during the production process errors may be discovered which could affect the content, and all legal disclaimers that apply to the journal pertain.www.elsevier.com/locate/jmbbm 1 A mechanistic insight into the mechanical role of the stratum corneum during stretching and compression of the skin. AbstractThe study of skin biophysics has largely been driven by consumer goods, biomedical and cosmetic industries which aim to design products that efficiently interact with the skin and/or modify its biophysical properties for health or cosmetic benefits. The skin is a hierarchical biological structure featuring several layers with their own distinct geometry and mechanical properties. Up to now, no computational models of the skin have simultaneously accounted for these geometrical and material characteristics to study their complex biomechanical interactions under particular macroscopic deformation modes.The goal of this study was, therefore, to develop a robust methodology combining histological sections of human skin, image-processing and finite element techniques to address fundamental questions about skin mechanics and, more particularly, about how macroscopic strains are transmitted and modulated through the epidermis and dermis. The work hypothesis was that, as skin deforms under macroscopic loads, the stratum corneum does not experience significant strains but rather folds/unfolds during skin extension/compression.A sample of fresh human mid-back skin was processed for wax histology. Sections were stained and photographed by optical microscopy. The multiple images were stitched together to produce a larger region of interest and segmented to extract the geometry of the stratum corneum, viable epidermis and dermis. From the segmented structures a 2D finite element mesh of the skin composite model was created and geometrically non-linear plane-strain finite element analyses were conducted to study the sensitivity of the model to variations in mechanical properties.The hybrid experimental-computational methodology has offered valuable insights into the simulated mechanics of the skin, and that of the stratum corneum in particular, by providing qualitative and quantitative information on strain magnitude and distribution. Through a complex non-linear interplay, the geometry and mechanical characteristics of the skin layers (and their relative balance), play a critical role in conditioning the skin mechanical response to macroscopic in-plane compression and extension. Topographical features of the skin surface such as furrows were shown to act as an efficient means to deflec...

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“…Leveque [29] and Pailler Matteri et al [15] reported that human skin has a gradient of material properties across different layers. A water gradient exists through skin layers, which can be attributed to the capabilities of water diffusion in internal layers and water evaporation at the skin surface.…”

Section: The Effect Of the Moisture Level Of Skinmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Information concerning this is required as it could be related back to resolving these problems in human daily activities. Pailler-Mattei et al [15] were the first to investigate the contribution of the stratum corneum on the skin friction of a forearm using a tape stripping technique. They observed that the skin friction coefficient globally increases after a number of tape strippings.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The contributions of skin structural properties to the friction of human finger-pads

Liu

Gad

et al. 2015

Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part J:

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This paper describes three series of tests that were designed to investigate how skin mechanical and structural properties, measured using a "Cutometer" and Optical Coherence Tomography, affect the frictional behaviour of human finger-pads. Firstly, the skin mechanical properties across all fingers and the palm in participants' dominant hands were assessed. Results showed that the distensibility of skin (total deformation in a suction test) is associated with stratum corneum thickness and that this in turn affects friction (thicker stratuem corneum leads to higher friction), giving a link between distensibility and friction.Tape stripping to remove the superficial layer of the skin led to increased moisture (and/or electric charge on the skin surface) led to higher friction. No accompanying changes were seen in structural properties so it was concluded that moisture was the main cause of the adhesion increase. More work is required to isolate moisture and possible changes in electric charge using alternative measurement techniques.When rubbing with sand paper, the stratum corneum thinned considerably and friction reduced. Moisture was ruled out as a cause of friction changes in this instance. Skin normal stiffness also did not change, but lateral stiffness changes have been seen in previous work when the stratum corneum thickness has been reduced so this is likely to be the cause of the reduced friction. This will be investigated further in future work using dynamic OCT measurements.

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Contribution of stratum corneum in determining bio-tribological properties of the human skin

Cited by 76 publications

References 22 publications

Skin tribology: Science friction?

Skin tribology: Science friction?

A mechanistic insight into the mechanical role of the stratum corneum during stretching and compression of the skin

The contributions of skin structural properties to the friction of human finger-pads

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