Dry Hands Research Articles

Emitted droplets and aerosols and their transmission when drying hands under an air-jet dryer

When drying hands with a high-speed air jet dryer, the jet impingement on hands can quickly atomize the remnant water on the hand skins into droplets and aerosols. Emission of droplets and liquid aerosols, their spatial transport and the possible inhaling exposure to the hand dryer user remain unclear. This investigation measured the jet flows from a downward air jet dryer, by the particle image velocimetry (PIV), the helium bubble trajectory analysis, and an ultrasonic anemometer. Emission of the droplets when turning over the hands, the droplet spatial motion, and their deposition on human body were photographed by a high speed camera. Concentrations of the liquid aerosols were monitored and the total emitted aerosol numbers and size spectrum were analyzed. The possible inhalation exposure to the emitted liquid aerosols was examined. It is found that number of droplets in size of 0.1 to 0.6 mm can deposit on the mouth and nose and the surrounding face. A typical hand drying process may emit approximately 105 liquid aerosols, of which 93 % are in the submicron size. A hand dryer user may inhale thousands of the emitted liquid aerosols if drying hands without wearing face mask.

Appropriate Hand Drying - The Missed Step of Hand Hygiene: A Qualitative Evaluation of Hand Drying Practices among Indian Health Care Workers.

Hand hygiene remains one of the most effective methods of preventing healthcare-associated infections. Hand drying is the end point of hand hygiene. Hand drying after hand hygiene is less explored, and the practice varies in different facilities. This explorative study was done to know the various hand-drying methods and practices of healthcare workers in Indian settings. This was a descriptive cross-sectional questionnaire-based observational study initiated from a tertiary care setup in Uttarakhand. Healthcare workers over 18 years of age directly involved in patient care were enrolled. A semi-structured questionnaire with both open-ended and close-ended questions was used with snowballing sampling technique. Statistical analysis was done using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). Out of the eligible 395 respondents, 62.8% were female. The mean age of the respondents was 31.34 ± 8.44 years and average working hours were 8.87 ± 2.97 (range 4-24) hours. Only 72.7% did hand hygiene always before touching a patient. Nurses were more compliant about hand hygiene than doctors (P < 0.0001). A total of 82.8% were aware of appropriate hand-drying methods. Staff in the Intensive care unit Intensive care unit (ICU) setup were more aware of hand drying practices (P = 0.033). A total of 21.8% wiped their hands on their clothing to dry their hands. This was more in staff from paraclinical departments (P = 0.001). A total of 35.7% used handkerchiefs to dry hands. Resident doctors used handkerchiefs more than senior doctors or nursing staff (P = 0.01). A total of 49.9% of respondents spent less than 10 seconds in hand drying. Hand-hygiene knowledge is high among healthcare workers in India, but the knowledge of appropriate hand-drying practices is lacking. There is wide variation in the practice of hand drying. Better hand drying guidelines and incorporating hand drying as the essential endpoint of the hand hygiene ritual are warranted.

Clear hands, Clear conscience: Fog disinfection, dry hand washing

Proposing a water-saving hand washing solution, we introduce a system designed to reduce water usage by over 95%. Highlighting the importance of hand hygiene in combating pandemics, we challenge the notion of excessive water requirement for effective disinfection. Our system, controlled by an Arduino microcontroller, incorporates ultrasonic sensors, mist maker, UV lamp, and timer buttons. It activates mist and UV components based on user-selected time, ensuring efficient disinfection. Alerts are issued if hands are prematurely removed, enhancing hygiene without water wastage

Using System of Least Prompts to Teach Self-Help Skills to Students Who Are Deafblind

To date, no evidence-based practices are identified for working with students who are deafblind (DB). No evidence-based practices have been identified for teaching basic self-help skills such as dressing. The present study examined the efficacy of an intervention package including the system of least prompts (SLP; i.e., SLP and least-to-most prompting), visual cues, and reinforcement to teach three self-help skills (i.e., wash hands, dry hands, entry routine) to four participants, ages 3-5 years, with vision and hearing impairments and multiple disabilities. A multiple probe across behaviors design, replicated across participants, was used to evaluate the effectiveness of an intervention package including SLP to teach self-help skills. Three of four participants increased their independence for all targeted self-help skills. A functional relation is indicated for three of four participants and provides promising evidence for use of SLP in teaching individuals with multiple disabilities that include DB.

Single port endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy with holmium laser for treating palmar hyperhidrosis at Thai Binh Provincial General Hospital

Introduction: thoracoscopic sympathectomy for treating palmar hyperhidrosis often uses 2 ports. Research to evaluate the results of the method using 1 port &lt; 5mm with Holmium Laser fiber.&#x0D; Object and Method: Description, prospective.&#x0D; Within 2 months from June 2023 to July 2023, 47 patients underwent single port endoscopic thoracic surgery using holmium laser to transect the sympathetic ganglia at T3 level for patients with palm sweating (26 patients) and T3-T4 level for patients with palm and axillary sweating (21 patients). The male-to-female ratio was 44.7% to 55.3%, with an average age of 18 ± 7.4 years (minimum age of 11 years, maximum age of 52 years). Surgical method: A single entry port trocar 14Fr located at the 3rd intercostal space, the posterior border of the pectoralis major muscle between the anterior and midaxillary lines, using a 12Fr endoscopic lens with integrated tunnel for Holmium Laser fiber. Patients were monitored and evaluated for early post-operative results: technical failure requiring the placement of a second port, complications during and after surgery and the degree of improvement in palmar hyperhidrosis, the rate of compensatory hyperhidrosis after 1 month and the patient's quality of life after surgery.&#x0D; Results:&#x0D; There were no technical failures. The time for transecting the sympathetic ganglion (one side) with Holmium Laser was 78 ± 40.76 seconds. All patients had dry hands after surgery, with two out of forty-seven patients having excessively dry hands. There were no complications during or after surgery, and no patients developed Horner’s syndrome. The average time to discharge after surgery was 30 ± 11.4 hours. Fourteen out of forty-seven patients had compensatory sweating after one month postoperatively at an acceptable level.&#x0D; Conclusion: The method of using a port &lt; 5mm with an endoscopic lens integrated with a Holmium Laser fiber tunnel is safe, effective, less traumatic and highly aesthetic.

Copper oxide particle emission and the spread in a public washroom from a high-speed jet air dryer

The high-speed jet discharged by hand dryers with brushed motors may release hazardous particles. In this study, the particles released from the hand dryer were trapped using high-efficiency particulate air filters for chemical composition analysis in a small test room. A manikin was placed to mimic a user standing in front of the dryer. Number and mass concentrations of the released particles were measured to estimate the particle emission rates and inhalation exposure. The particle emission rate reached 2.64 × 106 particles/s when starting the dryer. The released particles were found to contain a copper element, subsequently extrapolated to copper oxide. Secondly, in the large test room, jet airflows were measured using a three-dimensional ultrasonic anemometer. The results revealed that the horizontally placed palms caused the discharged jets to bend toward the human body, resulting in an upward motion of the air into the breathing zone. After running the dryer for 30 s, the peak mass concentration in the breathing zone for particles with a less than 2.5-μm diameter was 13.1 µg/m3. Installing high-efficiency particulate air filters to the air outlets of hand dryers was found to be effective in minimizing the exposure to CuO.

Indoor particle dispersion due to hand dryer in public washroom: an in silico study

Hand dryer in public washroom has been reported likely to be a reservoir of drug-resistant bacteria. When a hand dryer being used, the high-velocity air jet from the dryer outlet can carry aerosol particles to hand surfaces, the user, and indoor space. This in silico study considered the effect of different airflow speed of hand dryers on the dispersion of particles in different diameters with and without the user. The aim of this study was to apply the computational fluid dynamics (CFD) method based on the discrete phase model to investigate the trajectory of indoor particles from the hand dryer in public washroom. The CFD results showed that, when the user was using the hand dryer, 42.3% of the particles were distributed on the wall against the user, and 31.6% were distributed on the user’s body, including their hands. When no one was standing in front of the hand dryer, 87.6% of the particles fell on the ground. The blocking of user’s hand dispersed the particles to a wide range, particularly for the larger diameter particles which were scattered on the user’s body or on the ground. In addition, the dispersion proportion of particles did not vary with the speed of airflow, but the area of particles distribution became larger as the speed increased. Our findings suggest that the contamination of the indoor environment caused by the hand dryer could not be ignored, incorporating filters into hand dryers is essential. Furthermore, our work offers valuable insights for optimizing the design of hand dryers.

Self-Reported Allergic Occupational Contact Dermatitis among Dental Healthcare Professionals in United Arab Emirates -A Cross Sectional Study.

In dentistry, occupational contact dermatitis may affect dental professionals along with technicians, nurses, and patients. Changes to dental practice in recent years have altered the reported frequencies of allergens causing contact dermatitis in both dental professionals and dental patients. In the current cross-sectional study, we used a structured questionnaire and clinical examinations to examine the prevalence of self-reported hand eczema among United Arab Emirates (UAE). The relationship between subjective skin discomfort and latex, composite/bonding, or other dental materials also was explored. A structured questionnaire was designed to analyze the prevalence of skin conditions among dental professionals and study its implication in gender, occupation, and age groups. The questionnaire included information about skin symptoms, atopy, occupational experience, and other background factors like respiratory symptoms, work history and methods, and exposure at work. It was distributed to 550 randomly selected dental healthcare professionals. Out of 550 dental healthcare workers contacted, 434 responded giving a response rate of 79%. The prevalence of dry and rough skin on the hands was highest (45%). There was a total of 29 cases of allergic contact dermatitis, 15 cases of contact urticaria, 12 cases of irritating contact dermatitis, and 1 incidence of onychomycosis among the 100 dental healthcare professionals who reported having dermatitis on their hands, forearms, or faces due to their daily dental chores. Rubber chemicals and natural rubber latex (NRL) in protective gloves used by dentists, as well as dental-restorative plastic materials (methylacrylates), were the most common causes of allergy. Dry skin and hand eczema were more common among dental healthcare professionals. Plastic gloves or NRL gloves with a low protein content are recommended for dental work. Skin exposure to methylacrylates or latex should be avoided.

Assessment of the healthcare workers’ physical, educational and operational needs during the COVID-19 pandemic in Bahrain

PurposeThis study sought to understand the physical, educational and operational needs faced by healthcare workers (HCWs) (including physicians, nurses and allied health workers) during the COVID-19 pandemic.Design/methodology/approachA descriptive cross-sectional design was undertaken. HCWs working in hospitals, health centers, testing and quarantine areas in the Kingdom of Bahrain were invited to complete the online survey questionnaire developed by authors containing three domains: physical, educational, and perceived knowledge, and operational needs.FindingsA convenient sample (N = 627) of volunteered participants responded to the online survey. The biggest challenges that HCWs were exposed to are physical needs (experiencing dry hands, difficulty breathing while on a mask, feeling hot and sweaty, and less fluid and food intake) which were reported as the higher level, followed by operational needs (limited communication due to Personal Protective Equipment - PPE - use, longer working hours, and preparation time to get ready for duty). Other challenges pertained to education and knowledge (the presence of multiple sources of information confused them during the care practices). Females faced more challenges than males, and Bahraini HCWs handled challenges more than non-Bahrainis. A negative relationship was found between age and years of experience with the challenges of the HCWs.Originality/valueDuring the COVID-19 pandemic, health systems face rapidly increasing demands. HCWs face several challenges while providing patient care, particularly physical needs. This study provides adequate data for healthcare administrators to maintain a safe working environment during pandemics.

Evolving the EN 1500 test method for alcohol-based hand rub closer to clinical reality by reducing the organic load on hands and enabling product to be applied to dry hands

The methods currently used in Europe and North America to evaluate the bactericidal efficacy of hand hygiene products have some limitations, e.g., in the selection of test organisms or the method of contamination, and none of the methods allows prediction of actual clinical efficacy. WHO has therefore proposed to develop methods that better reflect typical clinical reality. In a first experiment, we investigated two contamination methods (immersion according to EN 1500 and low-volume according to ASTM E2755) with the EN 1500 test organism Escherichia coli and using 60% v/v iso-propanol. The second experiment was for comparison of the two contamination methods with Enterococcus faecalis. Finally, the two test organisms were compared using the low-volume contamination method. Data within each experiment was statistically compared using the Wilcoxon test for paired samples and data from all experiments were combined and fit to linear mixed effects models. Mixed-effects analysis confirmed that the test organism and contamination method both impacted the pre-values and all three of these were factors that influenced log10 reductions. Higher pre-values resulted in significantly higher log10 reductions, immersion contributed to significantly higher log10 reductions, and E. coli affected significantly lower log10 reductions. An efficacy evaluation against E. faecalis with a low-volume contamination method could be considered as an alternative to the EN 1500 standard. This could help improve the clinical relevance of the test method with including a Gram-positive organism and reducing soil load which allows a product application closer to reality.

Human glabrous skin contains crystallized urea dendriform structures in the stratum corneum which affect the hydration levels.

Glabrous skin is hair-free skin with a high density of sweat glands, which is found on the palms, and soles of mammalians, covered with a thick stratum corneum. Dry hands are often an occupational problem which deserves attention from dermatologists. Urea is found in the skin as a component of the natural moisturizing factor and of sweat. We report the discovery of dendrimer structures of crystalized urea in the stratum corneum of palmar glabrous skin using laser scanning microscopy. The chemical and structural nature of the urea crystallites was investigated in vivo by non-invasive techniques. The relation of crystallization to skin hydration was explored. We analysed the index finger, small finger and tenar palmar area of 18 study participants using non-invasive optical methods, such as laser scanning microscopy, Raman microspectroscopy and two-photon tomography. Skin hydration was measured using corneometry. Crystalline urea structures were found in the stratum corneum of about two-thirds of the participants. Participants with a higher density of crystallized urea structures exhibited a lower skin hydration. The chemical nature and the crystalline structure of the urea were confirmed by Raman microspectroscopy and by second harmonic generated signals in two-photon tomography. The presence of urea dendrimer crystals in the glabrous skin seems to reduce the water binding capacity leading to dry hands. These findings highlight a new direction in understanding the mechanisms leading to dry hands and open opportunities for the development of better moisturizers and hand disinfection products and for diagnostic of dry skin.

We Are All Fine

We Are All Fine Elnathan John (bio) My grandfather pulls out his penis and attempts to aim. His hands tremble, but he needs to find the right angle so he doesn't mess up the hospital toilet seat like he did yesterday. This is the one thing he will not let me help him do. And he will not sit to pee, he says. —Once I sit to pee, he grunts, you might as well kill me, just stop feeding me until I die. I prepare myself to wipe when he finishes. I stand behind him, at a distance that provides the illusion of privacy while allowing me to be there as soon as something goes wrong. He sighs as he waits for the trickle. I bite my inner cheeks as I wait for it. Yesterday we went three times before I heard the first few drops. The sigh is new. I know his groan. I know his grunt. I know, at least from what my uncles tell me, his scream, the projectiles from his mouth chased quickly by words none of them could repeat to me. I used to say that I am patient. Now I say I hope I am patient. Of all his grandchildren, I look most like him. I have his limbs and his lips, his gleaming dark skin and his dry hands and feet that need to be frequently moisturized or risk looking leprous. I wonder, did he grow into this, keeping all the demons at bay until he capitulated in middle age and left a trail of sordid memories in the minds of his children? I wonder, do I have his heart? I stop biting my cheeks and listen for the familiar groan—the one just before the trickle. After a few seconds I hear the drops and heave a sigh of relief. There is success today in the face of all the failure—of his heart, of his kidneys, of his spirit. He reaches behind him to hold something for balance, huffing, gasping. He will not ask for help. I spring toward him catching his frail, flailing arms. When his hand touches mine, he pauses, making as if to shoo it away. He holds onto it instead. I hold on and use my other hand to gently turn him around. Then I lift his left hand over my shoulder and pass my right arm around his waist. His lips are bunched. He avoids my eyes, grunting with each shuffle of his feet. His stomach trembles and the tips of his fingers are cold. I cover his body with the thick blanket, propping his head with the pillow before I feed him some warm chicken soup. His fingers seem shorter than they used to be when I was a prepubescent boy running around in his compound, and he [End Page 85] would wave me away from the well that always fascinated me. I would try to go as close as possible, to see my reflection in the water. I wondered then how many days or weeks it took and how many men, to dig and scrape out earth until they found water down, down below. The few times I was able to look properly when he had fallen asleep, I saw there were holes in the cylindrical wall of the well, perhaps for the diggers to climb out. Perhaps it was possible to climb in the same way the last man climbed out. Was it cold down there? Would I hear my heartbeat bounce against the walls? Then one day my mother told me how a little boy drowned in a well inside his home a few streets from us and cured me of all my curiosity _____ I place some kitchen rolls around his neck. I tip spoonfuls of soup into his lips, slowly, so that when it spills, I can wipe before it stains the sheets or his shirt. After the third spoon, he bunches his mouth, refusing any more. He could feed himself, but his trembling hands will spill soup everywhere. As I wait for him to loosen the muscles of his mouth and take the soup, which I fear is...

Effect of Optimal Alcohol-Based Hand Rub among Nurse Students Compared with Everyday Practice among Random Adults; Can Water-Based Hand Rub Combined with a Hand Dryer Machine Be an Alternative to Remove E. coli Contamination from Hands?

Efficient hand hygiene is essential for preventing the transmission of microorganisms. Alcohol-based hand rub (ABHR) is a recommended method. We compared health personnel (skilled nurse students) with random adults to study the effect of an ABHR procedure. A water-based hand rub (WBHR) procedure, using running tap water and a hand-drying machine, was also investigated. The study included 27 nurse students and 26 random adults. Hands were contaminated with Escherichia coli, and concentrations of colony forming units (CFU/mL) were determined before and after ABHR or WBHR. Concentrations after ABHR were 1537 CFU/mL (nurse students) and 13,508 CFU/mL (random adults) (p < 0.001). One-third of participants reported skin irritation from daily ABHR. Concentrations after WBHR were 41 CFU/mL (nurse students) and 115 CFU/mL (random adults) (p < 0.011). The majority of participants (88.5%) preferred the WBHR method. Results from 50 air samples from filtered air from the hand dryer outlet showed no CFU in 47 samples. A significant difference between the two groups was shown for the ABHR method, indicating that training skills are important for efficient hand hygiene. Surprisingly, the WBHR method seemed to have a significant effect in largely removing transient bacteria from hands.

An Arduino based Automated Faucet with Hand Dryer and Voice Announcement

This paper is presented about automatic faucet system called SOWAIER to facilitate the people by avoiding the interaction between system and person. This system is developed to keep the people safe from infections and minimize the usage of water during hand washing. The ultrasonic sensors and IR sensors to make voice announcement and detect the people. There are 3 IR sensors used in this system for delivering soap water, clean water and hand dryer. Initially, relay module with integrated with solenoid valve gets signals from microcontroller to actuate submersible pump for delivering soap water for 20 secs. Then, clean water is delivered for 15 secs and finally hand dryer system is actuated for 10 secs. The hand dryer system uses air blower. The simulation study is carried out by using ANSYS software to evaluate the temperature and velocity magnitude at the outlet of hand dryer system. The simulation results suggested that the sufficient air flow rate is achieved at outlet of hand dryer system with appropriate temperature. Moreover, this study also dealt with water scarcity on the earth. Hence, this system is made to cut off the water flow to avoid the accidental flooding even the user leaves it in the running conditions.

&lt;span&gt;Designing and organizing STEM education: &amp;ldquo;Dry hand sanitizer&amp;rdquo; topic by model 5E in grade 11 organic chemistry&lt;/span&gt;

STEM education has been a vital educational trend in the world. Over the past few years, in Vietnam this approach has been practiced widely in the K-12 education to facilitate school students participation in experiential activities and apply knowledge to create products or solve practical problems. In this article, we briefly introduce STEM education and the 5E model to design and organize the topic of "dry hand sanitizing" in grade-11 organic chemistry. We performed the pedagogical experiment by organizing the extracurricular activities at Thien Ho Duong High School, Dong Thap province, and observing their worksheets and learning outputs. The obtained results initially show the efficiency of the proposed method.

Sistem Keamanan Sepeda Motor dengan Teknologi Biometrik Sidik Jari Menggunakan Sensor Fingerprint R305

Motorcycles are comm only and widely used vehicles in Indonesia. This vehicle is highly popular because of several advantages they have . Some advantages motorcycles have , among others, ease ness of operation and a slim shape that makes them easier to park . But at the same time, it increas es interest in committing crimes of motorcycle theft. Worse, t he standard security system which is factory default is easier to break into. In this research, a tool is designed to resolve the problem by making double protection on a motorcycle using a fingerprint sensor. The fingerprint sensor acts as double protection in the motorcycle starting process. The fingerprint sensor is a component widely used these days because of its accuracy. T he result of the fingerprint registration test shows the average value of fingerprint registration delay is 7.46 seconds and 8.18 seconds for the two objects. T he results of testing the alarm system if the readings do not match 3 times will be locked for one minute. After being locked for one minute, the system will reset again from the beginning. From the results of the fingerprint test as a starter, it is found that 20 trials a re able to read fingerprints well with the status of registered and unregistered fingerprints. Then i t can be concluded that the accuracy of the fingerprint sensor is 100% accurate. The last test of the four different hand conditions shows almost the same delay value, with the dry hand fingerprint response faster than the others.

Adverse Effects of Personal Protective Equipment and Their Self-Practiced Preventive Strategies among the Covid-19 Frontline Health Care Workers

Background Owing to the highly contagious nature of SARS-CoV-2, the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) among the healthcare workers (HCWs) is mandatory. However, PPE associated adverse effects are also there. Objective To study the adverse effects associated with PPE and their preventive measures amongst the HCWs. Material and Methods A descriptive study was conducted among 200 HCWs working in a Covid center of a tertiary care center. The participants were sent the questionnaires online. Some of them not having smart phones were interviewed telephonically. Their information profile, the various adverse effects associated with PPE, and the preventive measures being practiced by them were noted. Data was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Results Total 97% HCWs reported adverse effects with hazmat suit; 96% with N 95 mask; 92% with goggle and 78% with gloves. The adverse effects associated with the prolonged use of the mask were erythema; erosions and scar at the nasal bridge; ear pain; difficulty in breathing; and headache. Sixty-seven percent of the participants had sweating with the use of gloves, which led to cutaneous exfoliation such as dry hands (55%) and skin itching (43%). Moisturizers and natural oils were used to prevent the dryness of hands. For the pressure related injury over the nasal bridge due to N95 mask, participants used to apply Band-Aid (adhesive bandage) and cotton dressing. Conclusion Adverse skin reactions related to PPE are common among HCWs. Comprehensive assessment of the skin condition and awareness on adverse skin reactions should be advocated.

Pelatihan Pembuatan Hand Sanitizer Berbasis Bahan Alam di Desa Lemberang, Kec. Banyumas

Piper betle L. leaf empirically has been used by the community as anti-inflamation, accelerate wound healing and antibacterial. Natural ingredients that have antibacterial activity can be found in hand sanitizer products. The use of hand sanitizer products with natural ingredients can be a more environmentally friendly alternative and reduce the risk of dry hands compared to alcohol-based hand sanitizers. Training on making hand sanitizers was carried out for community groups in Lemberang Village, Sokaraja, Banyumas, Central Java. Community service carried out in Lemberang Village began by surveying the location and characteristics of respondents, providing materials, making hand sanitizer practices, giving questionnaires and ending with closing. The event ran smoothly and based on the questionnaire given by the participants, most of them (50%) were participants aged 30-40 years, 61.76% were women. Based on the questionnaire given, the selection of natural ingredients used can be found easily (82.35%) around people's homes, and the resulting product does not cause the skin to dry out.

Automatic Dry Hand Sanitizing Device

Abstract: The world faced so many problems during the Covid-19 pandemic. Washing our hands was an integral part of preventive measures of the Covid-19. But it is found that it wastes so much water in the world. Many people do not have access to clean drinking water and face water scarcity. The sanitizer is also used by many people. But excessive use of sanitizer with high alcohol concentration leads to dry, itchy skin. The indirect consumption of sanitizer through the hands leads to the risk of other health conditions. In this proposed system, fog making technology is used for dispensing sanitizer. So that only the required quantity of sanitizer is dispensed and it covers the entire surface area of hands, guaranteeing the disinfection of hands. This system is proposed to reduce water usage by around 90%. It also saves 20-30% of the water that rolls over the hands while washing the hands and also the water required for washing hands. This system did not completely replace the handwashing method but it helped in saving a remarkable quantity of water. It also helped in preventing skin diseases and other potential health hazards. Keywords: Sanitizer Dispenser, Fog Maker, Temperature Detector, IR Sensor, Microcontroller

Performance and Acceptability of a New Dexpanthenol-Containing Hand Cream in Subjects with Sensitive and Very Dry Skin: A Randomized Controlled Study

A new dexpanthenol-containing hand cream (ND-HC) was developed for people with dry, sensitive, and/or environmentally stressed hands. To explore the performance and acceptability of ND-HC, we conducted a randomized, intraindividual comparison study in 40 healthy adult subjects with sensitive and very dry skin on the hands. Instrumental measurements determined the effects on stratum corneum (SC) hydration and transepidermal water loss (TEWL) after single and/or 4 weeks’ use of ND-HC. Single and continued at least four times daily applications of ND-HC to very dry skin of the hand for 4 weeks triggered significant increases in SC hydration. On day 29, the mean change in skin capacitance from baseline was significantly greater when ND-HC was applied to the test area compared with the untreated area on the contralateral hand (12.41 vs. 4.46 a.u.; p &lt; 0.001). Upon use of ND-HC over 4 weeks, mean TEWL decreased significantly (bilateral difference: −1.8 vs. 1.0 g/m2/h; p = 0.003), indicating an improvement in SC barrier function. A reduction in dry hand symptoms was observed over the study course. ND-HC was well tolerated and achieved a high level of acceptance and satisfaction. Our findings suggest that ND-HC complies with the required features of a state-of-the-art hand cream.