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Human axillary skin condition is improved following incorporation of glycerol into the stratum corneum from an antiperspirant formulation

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Abstract

The study objectives were to demonstrate that glycerol, when topically applied from a roll-on antiperspirant formulation, can be delivered directly to human skin ex vivo and the axillary stratum corneum (SC) in vivo, and to assess whether it improves the quality of the axillary skin barrier. Ex vivo human skin absorption of glycerol was measured following application of a roll-on antiperspirant formulation containing 4% 13C3-glycerol. Skin distribution of 13C3-glycerol over 24 h was assessed using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. In vivo axillary SC penetration was measured by confocal Raman spectroscopy and multivariate curve-resolution software 1 h after topical application of a roll-on antiperspirant formulation containing 8% deuterated glycerol (d5-glycerol). A clinical study was conducted to determine the efficacy of a roll-on antiperspirant formulation containing 4% glycerol in reducing shaving-induced visual irritation and in increasing axillary-skin hydration. Ex vivo skin absorption studies indicated that the formulation delivered 13C3-glycerol into the SC at all timepoints over the 24-h period. In vivo Raman measurements (1 h after application) demonstrated that d5-glycerol was detectable to a depth of at least 10 μm in the axillary SC. Application of 4% glycerol from a roll-on antiperspirant formulation to the axilla was associated with significantly less visible irritation and greater skin hydration than observed with the control (glycerol-free) product. These studies demonstrate that glycerol, incorporated in a roll-on antiperspirant formulation, is delivered directly and rapidly to all depths of the axillary SC, and results in improvements in visible irritation and hydration in the axilla.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank Gail Brennan, Sarah Paterson, and Jane Melling, Unilever Research and Development, Port Sunlight, for conducting the clinical study. Editorial assistance was provided by Kirsteen Munn and Julie Ponting of Anthemis Consulting Ltd, funded by Unilever Research and Development.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Unilever Research and Development, Port Sunlight Laboratory, Quarry Road East, Bebington, Wirral, Merseyside, CH63 3JW, UK

    Richard L. Evans, Graham A. Turner, Susan Bates, Teresa Robinson, David Arnold & Robert E. Marriott

  2. Unilever Research and Development, Colworth House, Sharnbrook, Bedfordshire, MK44 1LQ, UK

    Paul D. A. Pudney & Eleanor Y. M. Bonnist

  3. An-eX Analytical Services, 14/16 CBTC2, Capital Business Park, Cardiff, CF3 2PX, UK

    Darren Green

Authors
  1. Richard L. Evans
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  2. Graham A. Turner
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  3. Susan Bates
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  4. Teresa Robinson
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  5. David Arnold
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  6. Robert E. Marriott
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  7. Paul D. A. Pudney
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  8. Eleanor Y. M. Bonnist
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  9. Darren Green
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Richard L. Evans.

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Funding source

The studies were funded and conducted by Unilever Research and Development, Port Sunlight, UK.

Conflict of interest

Richard Evans, Graham Turner, Susan Bates, Teresa Robinson, David Arnold, Robert Marriott, Paul Pudney, and Eleanor Bonnist are employees of Unilever Research and Development. Darren Green is an employee of An-eX Analytical Services Ltd, which received funding from Unilever Research and Development, Port Sunlight, to complete the ex vivo skin-delivery study.

Ethical approval

All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of Unilever and the local institutional research board and with the 1964 Declaration of Helsinki and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

Informed consent

Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the studies.

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Evans, R.L., Turner, G.A., Bates, S. et al. Human axillary skin condition is improved following incorporation of glycerol into the stratum corneum from an antiperspirant formulation. Arch Dermatol Res 309, 739–748 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00403-017-1771-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00403-017-1771-y

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