Oxygen absorption by skin exposed to oxygen supersaturated water

Abstract

The present study tests the hypothesis that skin on the plantar surface of the foot absorbs oxygen (O(2)) when immersed in water that has a high dissolved O(2) content. Healthy male and female subjects (24.2 ± 1.4 years) soaked each foot in tap water (1.7 ± 0.1 mg O(2)·L(-1); 30.7 ± 0.3 °C) or O(2)-infused water (50.2 ± 1.7 mg O(2)·L(-1); 32.1 ± 0.5 °C) for up to 30 min in 50 different experiments. Transcutaneous oximetry and near infrared spectroscopy were used to evaluate changes in skin PO(2), oxygenated haemoglobin, and cytochrome oxidase aa(3) that resulted from treatment. Compared with the tap water condition, tissue oxygenation index was 3.5% ± 1.3% higher in feet treated for 30 min with O(2)-infused water. This effect persisted after treatment, as skin PO(2) was higher in feet treated with O(2)-infused water at 2 min (237 ± 9 vs. 112 ± 5 mm HG) and 15 min (131 ± 1 vs. 87 ± 4 mm HG) post-treatment. When blood flow to the foot was occluded for 5 min, feet resting in O(2)-infused water maintained a 3-fold higher O(2) consumption rate than feet treated with tap water (9.1 ± 1.4 vs. 3.0 ± 1.0 µL·100 g(-1)·min(-1)). We estimate that skin absorbs 4.5 mL of O(2)·m(-2)·min(-1) from O(2)-infused water. Thus, skin absorbs appreciable amounts of O(2) from O(2)-infused water. This finding may prove useful and assist development of treatments targeting skin diseases with ischemic origin.

Skin oxygen tension is improved by immersion in oxygen‐enriched water

“…Henry's Law dictates that the amount of gas dissolved in solution is directly proportional to the gas partial pressure given the solubility of the gas in solution for a given temperature [25]. Figures 1-4 [22]. This is in part due to an exchange of gas species within the water (e.g.…”

Where exactly do basic research findings meet the general public?

“…An article in the New York Times (Strauss 2013) concerning oxygenating skin-care products referred to the results of a study published in April 2012 of the Canadian Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology. That month only one article was related to skin oxygenation (Reading and Yeomans 2012). The skin-care product highlighted in the New York Times article purported to contain oxygen that following application would oxygenate the skin.…”

“…A professor of dermatology, a facial plastic surgeon, and a president of an apothecary company questioned whether oxygen could be taken up by skin in any meaningful amount, and even if so, would this make a difference to otherwise healthy skin. The work of Reading and Yeomans (2012) was used to help dispel these concerns by the producers of the skin-care product. Reading and Yeomans (2012) utilized transcutaneous oximetry and near-infrared spectroscopy to systematically determine whether oxygen could be absorbed through the skin; something thought to be limited, or even non-existent.…”

“…The work of Reading and Yeomans (2012) was used to help dispel these concerns by the producers of the skin-care product. Reading and Yeomans (2012) utilized transcutaneous oximetry and near-infrared spectroscopy to systematically determine whether oxygen could be absorbed through the skin; something thought to be limited, or even non-existent. These studies clearly demonstrated that water with a high dissolved content of oxygen could increase the oxygen level of skin tissue on the plantar surface of the foot.…”

“…The authors were also optimistic, but cautious, as to the significance of these findings as quoted: A scientific basis for health products is, without question, a good thing. However, the results of the article by Reading and Yeomans (2012) were apparently misconstrued by the producers of the skincare product. True, these findings provided proof in principle for the uptake of oxygen through the skin, but did not in any way validate the treatment.…”