Use of the Reviscometer for measuring cosmetics-induced skin surface effects

Area of Science:

• Dermatology
• Cosmetic Science
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• The Reviscometer RVM600 measures resonance running time (RRT), inversely related to skin stiffness.
• Limited studies explore its use for cosmetic product efficacy testing.

Purpose of the Study:

• Evaluate the Reviscometer RVM600's sensitivity in detecting cosmetic product effects on skin.
• Compare its performance against other non-invasive skin measurement devices.

Main Methods:

• Induced mild xerosis (dry skin) using alkaline soap.
• Treated skin with a lotion for rehydration or sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) for further dehydration.
• Assessed skin condition via visual inspection and non-invasive methods: Corneometer, Cutometer, Reviscometer, Evaporimeter, and squamometry.

Main Results:

• All methods detected significant changes after soap-induced drying.
• The Reviscometer demonstrated superior statistical discrimination between treatments (water, lotion, SLS) compared to the Cutometer.
• RRT measurements along the forearm's transversal axis were most sensitive in differentiating skin states and treatment effects.

Conclusions:

• The Reviscometer RVM600 is a sensitive tool for assessing subtle cosmetic effects on skin surface.
• Its ability to detect changes in stratum corneum (SC) stiffness/suppleness makes it recommendable for cosmetic product evaluation, especially when considering existing RRT data for gels and aged skin.