Medical Hydrology and Balneology: Environmental Aspects

Biophysical skin effects of peloids according to
their maturity time
Carbajo JM (1) , Corvillo I (1-2) , Aguilera A (1-2) , Meijide R (3) , Diestro P (1-4) , Crespo V (1) ,
Maraver F (1-2)
(1) Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. Medical Hydrology, Faculty
of Medicine, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
(2) Professional School of Medical Hydrology, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad
Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
(3) Departament of Medicine. University of A Coruña, A Coruña, Spain
(4) Baños de Montemayor Spa, Baños-Cáceres, Spain
jmcarbajoespejo@gmail.com
Objectives
This study was designed to assess the skin response to daily use for 10 and 20
days on forearms of 33 healthy volunteers aged between 18 and 40 years (23.3 ±
4.4) when applied 5 peloides with 0 (P0), 3 (P3) and 6 months of maturation (P6).
The objective was to determine changes in blood flow, viscoelastic skin properties,
pH, dermal density and transepidermal water loss (TEWL) on these areas and
compare the results according to the maturity of each peloid.
Materials
Five peloids were prepared mixing the same magnesium bentonite with 4 mineral
waters and sea water in the same proportion (1:2.4), except a sodium chloride
mineral water, which was mixed 1:1.6, in order to obtain the same viscosity as
above. These peloids were subsequently matured in the same environment.
Methods
Biological responses were determined using 5 non-invasive techniques: laser
Doppler velocimetry, cutometry, pH-metry, reviscometry and tewametry. These
determinations were performed on P0, P3 and P6.
Results
Significant differences were produced as a function of mud aging time.
Skin firmness (Uf) increases after application of matured peloids P3 and P6.
Skin elasticity (Ua/Uf) and pH are reversed compared to P0 when applying P3,
however, P6 peloid behaves similar to P0.
Cutaneous blood flow values (PU) has a very peculiar behavior, practically unchanged
when applying P0, decreases when applying P3 and increases with P6.
Finally, viscoelastic elongation ratio (Uv/Ue), skin fatigue, TEWL and dermal
density are not modified by peloid maturation.
Balnea
2012, núm. 6, 169-170
169
ISBN: 978-84-669-1887-0
978-84-669-3482-4