Efficacy of skin protection creams for the treatment of irritant dermatitis in hairdresser apprentices [Effektivität von hautschutzcremes zur behandlung irritativer kontaktekzeme bei friseurauszubildenden]

Abstract

The efficacy, tolerance and user acceptability of two skin protection creams have been evaluated during a 4-weeks in-use study with 25 hairdresser apprentices suffering from manifest cumulative subtoxical contact dermatitis. The clinical evaluation showed that regular use of either cream lead to a clear improvement in skin condition in most of the subjects; a subjective decrease of skin dryness, of skin redness and of itch was reported. The beneficial effects of the creams were measured by means of clinical scoring and skin bioengineering measurements. After 2 and 4 weeks of treatment, a clinically significant improvement in skin dryness, redness and scaling was noticed. The transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and the skin colour (red hue a*) were significantly decreased throughout the study duration. In addition, a significant increase of the horny layer skin hydration was measured.