Beneficial effects of softened fabrics on atopic skin

There is general concern about the possible cutaneous adverse effects of we aring garments treated with household laundry products, particularly on ato pic skin. Our objective was to compare softened and non-softened fabrics in a forearm wet and dry test, under conditions simulating real-life conditio ns. Twenty atopic volunteers entered a single-blind 12-day (3 sessions per day) forearm wetting and drying test. Cotton fabrics were machine washed an d liquid fabric conditioner was added or not to the final rinse. To simulat e conditions of skin damage, a dilute solution of sodium lauryl sulphate wa s applied under occlusion to the forearm of each volunteer before the start of the study. Skin effects were evaluated by visual grading (redness, dryn ess and smoothness), squamometry and in vivo instrumental measurements (cap acitance, transepidermal water loss and colorimetry). Rubbing of atopic ski n with fabrics generally resulted in discrete to moderate alterations of th e structure of the stratum corneum. Both for control and pre-irritated skin , all measured parameters indicated that softened fabric was less aggressiv e to the skin than unsoftened fabric. In the case of pre-irritated skin, th e recovery of the skin was significantly faster when rubbed with softened t han with unsoftened fabrics. In conclusion, softened fabrics help mitigate the skin condition in atopic patients. Copyright (C) 2001 S. Karger AG, Bas el.