Abstract
Traveling to space puts astronauts at risk of developing serious health problems. Of particular interest is the skin, which is vitally important in protecting the body from harmful environmental factors. Although data obtained from long-duration spaceflight studies are inconsistent, there have been indications of increased skin sensitivity and signs of dermal atrophy in astronauts. To better understand the effects of spaceflight stressors including microgravity, ionizing radiation and psychological stress on the skin, researchers have turned to in vitro and in vivo simulation models mimicking certain aspects of the spaceflight environment. In this review, we provide an overview of these simulation models and highlight studies that have improved our understanding on the effect of simulation spaceflight stressors on skin function. Data show that all aforementioned spaceflight stressors can affect skin health. Nevertheless, there remains a knowledge gap regarding how different spaceflight stressors in combination may interact and affect skin health. In future, efforts should be made to better simulate the spaceflight environment and reduce uncertainties related to long-duration spaceflight health effects.
Highlights
When the first humans ventured into space, it became clear that the space environment is unwelcoming for the human body
We can clearly conclude that simulated microgravity, ionizing radiation, and stress hormones, can influence the proper functioning of the skin, and as such compromise the skin’s vital functions
Data obtained from astronauts related to wound healing, skin thickness and barrier function are often contradictory, which might be due to inter-individual differences in skin sensitivity and insufficiently large sample sizes
Summary
When the first humans ventured into space, it became clear that the space environment is unwelcoming for the human body. Astronauts most frequently report skin-related problems, including itches, rashes, and dryness of the skin [6,7,8] These issues are thought to be related to the environment of the International Space Station (ISS), in which the skin hygiene routine is limited to the use of wet tissue wipes and non-rinse shampoos and soaps. Other factors, such as temperature, air circulation and low humidity levels further contribute to increased incidences of skin infections, atopic dermatitis, and dryness and itching of the skin. We discuss the status of skin research in space, the methodology used in studies to recreate the space environment on Earth, identify gaps in the literature and the weaknesses of such methodologies, and provide a future aim for spaceflight research
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