Subjects and study protocol
A total of 40 healthy volunteers, mean age 40 ±9 years,
were studied after they provided informed consent. A
dermatologist determined the skin types of these volunteers
as normal to dry. All participating volunteers were found
free from any pathological fndings on their arms. All
test subjects were asked not to use cleansing or skin care
products on the volar forearms[24]
for 1 week prior to and
during the study. Viscoelastic and hydration measurements
were carried out (baseline) before and after the application
of the moisturizers (short-term test; 1, 2, and 3h) after a
single application. This procedure was followed for a long-
term test of 3 weeks, wherein herbal moisturizers were
applied 2 times daily in the morning and evening for 20
days consecutively. About 0.2 g of each moisturizer was
applied to different test sites, 2 cm in diameter located on
the volar forearm. An adjacent untreated skin area served
as a control. Cutometer and conductance measurements