Effects of local forearm skin heating on skin properties

Abstract

This study investigated impacts of local skin heating on skin properties and tested whether skin changes depended on heat-induced hyperaemia. It was reasoned that heat-induced vasodilation impacts accompanying interstitial fluid changes. Forearm skin was locally heated from a baseline of 35°C to 40-42°C in 30 young adults (15 females, 15 males, 24.9±2.1years) and non-heated in 10 others (5 females, 5 males, 25.2±1.3years. Skin blood flow (SBF) was continuously measured using a laser Doppler method and skin tissue dielectric constant (TDC), stratum corneum capacitance (SCC) and transepidermal water loss (TEWL) were measured before and after maintained heat for 12min. TDC values were determined to effective measurement depths of 1.5mm (TDC15) and 2.5mm (TDC25). Results showed a large heat-induced hyperaemia, with SBF increasing on average 8.8-fold from its baseline of 35°C. Heating also caused significant increases in TDC, SCC and TEWL that, compared to preheating, increased approximately 1.1-fold, 3.1-fold and 4.5-fold. None of these skin changes correlated with the magnitude of the SBF hyperaemic response. Absence of this correlation may indicate that in young healthy adults, increased capillary filtration due to heat-induced arteriolar vasodilation is rapidly accommodated by postcapillary reabsorption, enhanced lymphatic activity and TEWL processes. An alternate explanation is that heating caused increased red cell oscillations that were detected as part of the laser Doppler increase without representing increased capillary flux. The major determinant of the Increases in TDC, SCC and TEWL is likely a consequence of heat-induced eccrine gland activation. Studies of older persons or those with depressed function are warranted.