Parallel Group Comparison of the Effects on Skin Condition of Two Antimicrobial Hand Wash Products

Aims: The aim of this study was to compare the effects on skin condition of a hand cleansing protocol comprising repeated use of alcohol rub supplemented with one of two different antimicrobial hand washes, Dermol Wash (DW) and Hibiscrub (HS) when used for 5 consecutive days.
Methodology: Forty females applied the alcoholic rub 24 times and used their allocated antimicrobial wash product 13 times on test days (Days 1, 3 and 5) and applied the alcoholic rub 12 times and used the antimicrobial wash 7 times on intervening days. On test centre visit days, an investigator made visual assessments of skin condition and performed corneometry and pH measurements. Transepidermal water loss (TEWL) was measured at baseline and day 5. Subjects also assessed how their skin felt compared to baseline.
Results: Investigator visual assessments of skin dryness barely changed for DW but significantly deteriorated by the end of each test day for HS. Subjects' assessments of how their skin felt significantly deteriorated for HS, with five withdrawals. There was one withdrawal in the DW group. Corneometry measurements significantly improved for DW by 19% over the study, compared to a significant deterioration by 18% for HS. Apparent skin surface pH tended to increase for HS only. TEWL increased in both groups.
Conclusion: The use of an appropriate hand wash product, such as DW, even in conjunction with ubiquitous alcohol rubs, can achieve significant benefits- assessed in terms of subjects’ own assessments of how their skin feels, investigator visual assessments of skin dryness and skin hydration measured by corneometry.