THE PRESENCE OF BODY HAIR INFLUENCES THE MEASUREMENT OF SKIN HYDRATION WITH THE CORNEOMETER

Techniques for the assessment of skin hydration are often based on the electrical properties of the stratum corneum. A commonly used instrum ent for measurements of skin moisture is the corneometer, which detect s changes in the dielectric constant of the material in contact with t he probe, It has been suggested that different materials, for example cream residues and desquamating scales, may interfere with the Corneom eter readings, but this question has not been settled conclusively in previous studies, In the present study the influence of body hair was examined. Significantly lower Corneometer values were obtained on the dorsal aspect of the forearm than on the volar aspect (p<0.05), indica ting that the former region was less hydrated than the latter. After s having of the skin, however, there was no difference in the Corneomete r readings between the two regions, Thus, the presence of hair needs t o be considered when the hydration status of the skin is examined with the use of a Corneometer.