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How irritant is water? An overview.
1Department of Dermatology, University of California, San Francisco, USA.
Contact Dermatitis
|January 5, 2000
Summary
Water exposure can irritate skin, causing inflammation and functional damage, especially with prolonged occlusion. Further research is needed to fully understand the mechanisms behind water-induced skin irritation.
Area of Science:
- Dermatology
- Occupational Health
Background:
- Water is a ubiquitous substance with significant implications for skin health.
- Historical accounts, such as tropical immersion foot during the Vietnam War, highlight water's potential to cause skin issues.
- Occupational dermatology recognizes water as a common skin irritant.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the irritant properties of water on the skin.
- To explore the mechanisms and contributing factors of water-induced skin irritation.
- To assess the effects of water exposure, with and without occlusion, on skin physiology and clinical appearance.
Main Methods:
- Occlusion experiments using closed chambers or water-soaked patches to induce inflammation.
- Measurement of transepidermal water loss to assess functional skin damage.
- Evaluation of skin blood flow, dryness, and scaling after repeated water exposure.
Main Results:
- Occlusion with water led to clinical and histopathological signs of inflammation.
- Increased transepidermal water loss indicated functional skin damage.
- Repeated water exposure without occlusion increased skin blood flow but did not significantly alter dryness or scaling.
Conclusions:
- Water can act as a skin irritant, causing inflammation and functional impairment.
- Factors like osmolarity, pH, hardness, temperature, and disruption of natural moisturizing factors may contribute to water's irritancy.
- Further research is required to fully elucidate the risk factors and mechanisms involved in water-induced skin irritation.