While deodorizing or masking of unpleasant body odor has been in practice for much of recorded history, controlling underarm wetness has only become a personal care practice in the past 100 or so years. Underarm products began to appear in the market place in the United States in the late 19th century with the introduction […]

John E. Wild Hill Top Research, Miamiville, Ohio, U. S.A. A. C. Lanzalaco and D. F. Swaile P&G Beauty, Sharon Woods Technical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, U. S.A. INTRODUCTION Personal care has been a concern of both men and especially women since the beginning of recorded history and most likely prior to those times as well. […]

Soap is created by a heating process called saponification; an alkali and a long-chain fat compound are combined, producing a fatty acid salt which exhibits detergent proper­ties (6). A surfactant effect from usage of a soap reduces surface tension between water and surface debris, allowing for separation and removal by a lathering effect. A major […]

The goal of an effective cleanser is to encompass, loosen, and promote easy removal of accumulated surface cutaneous debris, inclusive of natural skin secretions (i. e., sebum, desquamating corneocytes), dirt, microorganisms, and externally applied products (i. e., cosmetics, skin care products, medication residue) (6,29,30). As cleansing is a regular “daily ritual” for many cultures, the […]

Special ingredients may be added to basic moisturizer formulations to create “targeted moisturizer products” (1-3). Alpha-hydroxy acids, such as glycolic acid and lactic acid, have been added to many formulations to create exfoliant moisturizers, often marketed as anti-aging preparations (2,3,5). In order to reduce associated irritation, reduction in concentration or use of neutralizing additives (buffering) […]

Most moisturizers are formulated as creams (water-in-oil emulsion) or lotions (oil-in­water emulsion) (1,2,8,13). The “heaviness” of the final formulation correlates with the inclusion and relative concentration of heavier occlusive agents such as petrolatum and lanolin derivatives, the inherent qualities of individual emollients and humectants that may be included in some products, and the oil-water ratio […]

The greasiness of occlusive agents such as petrolatum and lanolin can limit their clinical usefulness due to lack of cosmetic elegance (2-5). For example, odor and potential allergenicity may limit the use of lanolin. Although mineral oil demonstrates less capability to reduce TEWL as compared to some other occlusive agents, it is a popular formulation […]

Whether or not a moisturizer formulation “makes it in the real world” is ultimately dependent on recognizable efficacy, cosmetic acceptability, and patient preference. It is important to recognize that the term moisturizer does not imply that moisture (water) is being added to the skin. A properly formulated moisturizer contains occlusive, humectant, and emollient ingredients that […]

In a clinical study of adult and pediatric patients treated for atopic dermatitis twice daily over a three-week period with a low-potency topical steroid lotion, with or without a moisturizer cream, both regimens exhibited consistent reductions in signs and symptoms of disease, although greater improvement was noted at treated sites where moisturizer was also used […]