In vitro and in vivo evaluation of water penetration through skin protectant barriers.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND/AIMS: To evaluate moisture penetration through thin films of skin protectants both in vivo and in vitro. METHODS: Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy was used in the reflectance mode. The in vivo studies involved moisture penetration through skin in the absence and presence of thin skin protectant films on the forearm. Moisture penetration through the stratum corneum was monitored by peeling layers of stratum corneum with Scotch(tm) tape. The in vitro studies involved the use of a 1 mm thick film of the skin protectant products on the window of the attenuated total reflectance (ATR) cell. The moisture penetration in both cases was determined by monitoring the water band at 3300 cm(-1) . The two products evaluated were petrolatum and iLEX®. RESULTS/CONCLUSIONS: Both the in vivo and in vitro results suggest that FTIR reflectance spectroscopy can be used to determine moisture penetration through skin protectant barrier films.