Xerotic leg skin

On normal skin NaOH erosions first develop at hair follicles and orifices of sweat gland ducts, usually after 4 to 5 min. They are small and circular in appearance. However, erosions on xerotic leg skin look different, they often develop along cracks in the SC, revealing the weak spots of xerotic skin. Erosion times are significantly reduced, on severely dry skin erosions develop within the first minute. 

FIGURE 37.1 Effect of moisturizer treatment on sodium hydroxide erosion time of xerotic leg skin, (a) Marked improvement of alkali resistance after treatment with a water-in-oil emulsion for four weeks (p <. 0001). (b) Slight but significant improvement after treatment with a lotion containing 12% lactic acid (p <. 01). Erosion assays were performed before and after treatment on four adjacent spots per leg. Data shown as box plots. Statistical analysis was performed with the paired Mest. 

FIGURE 37.2 DMSO response of xerotic leg skin, (a) Dose dependent increase of DMSO induced cutaneous blood flow before on untreated skin, (b) After twice daily application of a water-in-oil emulsion for six weeks the response was markedly reduced. DMSO induced blood flow was measured with a laser Doppler imager. Data expressed as blood perfusion units. Statistical significance was determined using the paired r-test ( p >. 05,... 

Pierard-Franchimont, C., Petit, L., and Pierard, G.E. Skin surface patterns of xerotic legs the flexural and accretive types. Int. J. Cosmet. Sci. 23, 121-126 (2001). 

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