Emulsions, Microemulsions, and Lyotropic Liquid Crystals - Surface and Colloid Chemistry: Principles and Applications - page 195

Some cosmetics have been found to contain proteins and can have moisturizing and
tightening effects. A typical recipe for such purposes is as follows:
Skin cream for face (dry skin):
Water
Safflower seed oil
Coconut oil
Glycerin polysorbate 60
Evening primrose oil
Sorbitan stearate
Cetyl ester
EDTA
Many procedures have been suggested for the assessment of dry skin. Evaporation of
emulsion water, electrical capacitance, and skin surface (emulsion) lipids are meth-
ods used for the assessment of the efficacy of skin care products. Hygiene of the skin
is one of the most important aspects of daily life, and for humans, hygiene of the skin
is related to clean state. One may ask the question how clean is clean . Skin hygiene,
particularly of the hands, is a primary mechanism for reducing contact and fecal-
oral transmission of infectious agents. For over a century, skin hygiene, particularly
of the hands, has been accepted as a primary mechanism to control the spread of
infectious agents. However, widespread use of antimicrobial products has prompted
concern about emergence of resistance to antiseptics and damage to the skin barrier
associated with frequent washing. Although the causal link between contaminated
hands and infectious disease transmission is one of the best-documented phenomena
in clinical science, several factors have recently prompted a reassessment of skin
hygiene and its effective practice.
In industrialized countries, exposure to potential infectious risks has increased
because of changing sociologic patterns (e.g., more frequent consumption of com-
mercially prepared food and expanded childcare services). Environmental sanitation
and public health services, despite room for improvement, are generally good. In
addition, choices of hygienic skin care products have never been more numerous,
and the public has increasing access to health- and product-related information.
It has been reported that there is evidence for the relationship between skin
hygiene and infection, the effects of washing on skin integrity, and recommenda-
tions for skin care practices for the public and healthcare professionals. Skin cleans-
ing is accepted to reduce the risk of infection, and personal bathing and washing
have been known for ages to be essential to maintaining good health. Though hand-
washing has been reported to be important for infection control, aside from hand
cleansing, specific evidence is lacking to link bathing or general skin cleansing with
preventing infections.
In a recent study, it was found that the use of antimicrobial soaps was associated
with substantial reductions in rates of superficial cutaneous infections. Extensive
experimental studies demonstrated a reduction in bacteria on the skin with use of
antimicrobial soaps, but none assessed rates of infection as an outcome.