Medical Hydrology and Balneology: Environmental Aspects

Evaluation of the efficacy of exfoliating
formulations containing pumice from
São Miguel’s Island – Azores Archipelago
Amaral H (1) , Estanqueiro M (1) , Bossolani G (1) , Santos D (1) ,
Silva JBF (2) , Gomes CSF (2) , Sousa-Lobo JM (1)
(1) Department of Drug Sciences, Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of
Pharmacy, University of Porto, Portugal
(2) GeoBioTec, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal
hamaral.ffup@gmail.com
Introduction and Objectives
The skin of humans and, more specifically, facial skin, periodically need a deep
cleansing to remove not only the oily particles resulting from secretions, but also
dead skin resulting from desquamation of epidermis [1]. Pumice has a recognized
application as abrasive agent to promote exfoliation of the skin. Pumice ground into
micro-fine grains provide an excellent exfoliating medium to remove dead and
rough skin, leaving the skin silky smooth, particularly, facial skin [2, 3]. In this
study, the efficacy of two different formulations (a gel and a soap) containing
pumice 5% (w/w) with grain size 125-250 µm was evaluated.
Materials and Methods
Determinations of skin hydration, pH, sebum content and skin relief were performed,
before and 30 minutes after application of the gel (EP 125) or soap (SP
125), chosen randomly, on the forehead of male and female volunteers through
thirty circular movements. Hydration and pH values as well as the sebum content
were determined with MPA®9 equipment (Courage-Khazaka, Köln, Germany),
through the probes Corneometer® CM825, Skin-pH-meter® PH905, and
Sebumeter® SM815, respectively. The skin surface images were obtained with the
Visioscan® VC98 equipment and software SELS (“Surface Evaluation of the
Living Skin”), (Courage-Khazaka, Köln, Germany), specially designed to characterize
skin’s relief by different variables. In this study, the variables analysed were:
surface, volume, energy (NRJ), scaliness (SEsc), roughness (SEr), wrinkles (SEw)
and smoothness (SEsm). These tests were conducted in laboratory environment, at a
temperature around 20ºC and mean relative humidity of 60%. All volunteers received
oral and written information about the study modalities, including the experimental
protocol, and written informed consent was obtained from each volunteer.
Balnea
2012, núm. 6, 253-254
253
ISBN: 978-84-669-1887-0
978-84-669-3482-4