Influence of finishing textile materials on the reduction of skin irritations

• Published in: Skin research and technology 2013-02, Vol.19 (1), p.e409-e416
• Main Authors: Strese, Helene, Kuck, Monika, Benken, Rainer, Fluhr, Joachim W., Schanzer, Sabine, Richter, Heike, Meinke, Martina C., Beuthan, Jürgen, Benderoth, Christian, Frankowski, Gottfried, Sterry, Wolfram, Lademann, Jürgen
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Clothing - adverse effects; Coating; Dermatitis, Contact - etiology; Dermatitis, Contact - pathology; Dermatitis, Contact - prevention & control; Fabric analysis; Fabrics; Female; Finishing; Humans; laser scanning microscopy; Male; Methods; Microscopy, Confocal; Middle Aged; Nylons - adverse effects; optical coherence tomography; Optical properties; optical surface profilometry; Perception; Polyesters - adverse effects; Proteins; Silk; Silk - adverse effects; silk proteins; Skin Tests; Studies; subjective wearing comfort; Surface Properties; Surveys and Questionnaires; Textiles; Textiles - adverse effects; Tomography, Optical Coherence; Young Adult
• ISSN: 0909-752X; 1600-0846
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0846.2012.00658.x

Background An increasing number of people is reported to have sensitive skin. Consequently, the development of textile materials with comfortable wearing properties has become a major interest. One method to create a pleasant sensation of textile materials on the skin is to coat them with silk proteins. This technologically complex procedure requires both optimization and control. Methods The present study was aimed to characterize the subjective perception of different textiles and to objectively assess their influence on skin morphology with non‐invasive optical techniques like optical coherence tomography (OCT), laser scanning microscopy (LSM) and optical surface profilometry (OP). Furthermore, optical methods were used to characterize surface properties of different textile fabrics. Results In the present study it could be shown that optical non‐invasive methods, as applied in cosmetology and dermatology are suited to characterize the structural properties of fabrics and the effects that textile materials have on the skin. Here, both unfinished textile materials and fabrics finished with silk protein coating were investigated by OCT, LSM and OP. In addition, volunteers were interviewed about their subjective sensation when these fabrics were in contact with their skin. Conclusion The study showed that optical methods could be applied to compare textile materials in vitro, which permit the wearing comfort to be predicted and in vivo perception on the skin.