A simple method for the study of scale pattern and effects of a moisturizer--qualitative and quantitative evaluation...

A new tape (D-Squame tape) made for scale pattern assessments was used to study epidermal effects of an oil-in-water emulsion applied at random to forearm skin of 16 volunteers. The contralateral forearm served as an untreated control. The emulsion was applied twice daily for 7 days. Tapes were assessed visually in a medical viewer, and a special system for measurement of optical transmission of the tapes was established. Visual evaluation showed (Day 7) an altered pattern in nine volunteers with an absence of flakes on the treated side, which was not seen on the control side. The optical transmission of the tapes from the 16 volunteers was significantly increased in samples from the test side (P less than 0.001). One week after cessation of treatment the transmission was still increased (P less than 0.02), and one volunteer presented an altered scale pattern according to visual grading. Measurements of electrical conductance and capacitance, both parameters of epidermal hydration, gave similar results, i.e., increased values on Day 7 and increased conductance 1 week later. Thus, the epidermal effects of the emulsion were protracted. Evaluation of the tape method showed this to be reproducible and valid. The method is easy to use and suited for qualitative and quantitative evaluation of variations in the scale pattern of human skin.