The contact angle of water on viable human skin

The contact angle of water was measured on clean dry skin and on skin coated with the following materials: paraffin, stearic acid, a lanolin derivative, a quaternary ammonium salt, and hydrophilic and hydrophobic silicones. The area of skin tested was the upper surface of the index finger, which was...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of colloid and interface science 1968-02, Vol.26 (2), p.146-151
Main Authors: Ginn, M.E, Noyes, C.M, Jungermann, Eric
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Humans
Skin
Surface Tension
Surface-Active Agents
Water
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Summary:The contact angle of water was measured on clean dry skin and on skin coated with the following materials: paraffin, stearic acid, a lanolin derivative, a quaternary ammonium salt, and hydrophilic and hydrophobic silicones. The area of skin tested was the upper surface of the index finger, which was positioned on the stage of a contact angle telescope goniometer. Clean and degreased skin gave a high contact angle with water (> 100°). All agents studied reduced the water droplet contact angle when applied to the skin. Reductions of contact angles were observed at very low levels of application. Unexpected results were obtained with stearic acid. The water droplet contact angle reduced to a minimum of 70° at 100 μgm stearic acid/cm 2 on skin, but further application of stearic acid yielded increasing contact angles to levels from 105° to 120°, depending upon the subject tested.
ISSN:0021-9797
1095-7103
DOI:10.1016/0021-9797(68)90306-8