US researchers say cosmetic ingredient can control skin wettability

A study carried out by US researchers at Binghamton University and funded by personal care brand Schick has found that a common anionic surfactant present in cosmetic cleaners can alter the wettability of skin. 

Led by biomedical engineering assistant professor Guy German, researchers treated the skin with solutions of an anionic surfactant called sodium lauryl sulphate that has been buffered to various pH values, to demonstrate that the wettability of the skin’s outermost layer can be controlled.

German said: “In this study, we have demonstrated that we can alter the wettability of the human skin surface using an ingredient commonly used in cosmetic cleansers: anionic surfactants.

"Skin acts as the first line of defence to the outside world and the wettability of skin plays an important role in contact inhibition of microorganisms, as well as the sensory perception of cosmetic products."

Found in products such as soaps, shampoos, medical creams and shaving creams, the surfactants are originally used to alter the wettability of wool and human hair.

Earlier, the university focused on research of healthy and diseased/disordered skin tissue with cosmetics, ageing, environmental factors and bacteria. 

The latest findings involve direct control of the physical properties through interactions between the skin’s keratin and surfactants.

According to the research, controlling the wettability can make the skin either waterproof by turning it hydrophobic or to hydrophilic for increasing spread of products such as cosmetics or ointments.

German and his colleagues intend to further study the potential of the new finding in transdermal drug delivery, adhesion of biointegrated electronics and sensor systems.