T. Sadowski, C. Müller, N. Nowak, H. Niesalla, H. Gerdes (presented in part at the 7th ICPIC Conference, Geneva, Switzerland, 12th -15th September 2023)
Hand hygiene is essential for preventing healthcare-associated infections. However, hand hygiene compliance is often hindered by a number of factors, one of which is irritant contact dermatitis. Illustrating the benefits of skin friendly hand disinfectants and their effect on skin condition could positively influence hand hygiene compliance. The aim of this study was to analyse the skin hydrating effect of a hand disinfectant with a comprehensive skin care complex using Capacitive Contact Imaging (CCI) as a method to assess and visualise skin hydration in comparison to conventional corneometry. In addition to established parameters, including pH value, transepidermal water loss (TEWL), and dermatological assessments, the study investigated the dermatological effects of a two-week application of a hand disinfectant foam. Frequent daily application of the product led to an improvement in skin hydration without causing intolerability. The results from CCI and corneometry were consistently comparable and showed significantly elevated skin hydration after the two-week application period. CCI illustrated the increased skin hydration and it’s potential to be used as an additional method to evaluate and demonstrate the effect of hand hygiene products on skin health.
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