HYDRATION, TRANSEPIDERMAL WATER-LOSS, PH AND SKIN SURFACE PARAMETERS - CORRELATIONS AND VARIATIONS BETWEEN DOMINANT AND NONDOMINANT FOREARMS

The aim of this study was to examine differences between the skin of b oth forearms with regard to several parameters: hydration (skin capaci tance), transepidermal water loss (TEWL), pH and skin surface paramete rs. Possible correlations between measurements were investigated. Thir ty-three healthy women (32.6+/-8.4 years) participated in the study. T he different parameters were measured on each volar forearm (dominant and non-dominant) at precisely delineated sites. TEWL and developed le ngth (DL) were significantly increased on the dominant forearm (P<0.00 1 and P<0.01, respectively). In addition, a correlation matrix was cal culated with the differences between dominant and non-dominant forearm s for all the parameters measured. Only the skin surface parameters we re found to be interrelated with this statistical approach. These data confirm that randomization between forearms is essential in the desig n of a reliable experimental plan, and indicate the lack of relationsh ip between these measurements as assessed in a group of healthy young women.