Evaluation of skin damage. II. Water loss and carbon dioxide release measurements related to skin resistance measurements.

Abstract

Water loss and carbon dioxide release measurements were performed to determine whether the severity of damage to human skin, caused by exposing its surface to buffered and unbuffered solutions of alkali and sodium phosphate, could be evaluated simultaneously by means of different measuring techniques and whether the results of these measurements, expressed in numerical terms, gave identical information. It appeared that the buffered solutions disturbed skin functions less than the unbuffered solutions and therefore may be considered to be less harmful. The NaOH solution at pH 12.0, lacking any buffering capacity, damaged the skin, producing signs of inflammation, whereas that at pH 10.0 did not. It appeared that skin damage could be assessed reliably by simultaneously measuring changes in skin impedance, water loss and carbon dioxide release, which are interrelated parameters.