Purpose: This study aims to further research done
Description: Purpose: This study aims to further research done in how to treat conditions such as atopic dermatitis. It has been shown that penetration of the skin barrier is the most influential in treating chronic dry skin conditions. However, there
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slide1. Purpose:
This study aims to further research done in how to treat conditions such as atopic dermatitis. It has been shown that penetration of the skin barrier is the most influential in treating chronic dry skin conditions. However, there is not much research on the most efficient way to hydrate skin. This project aims to provide more information on the best way to hydrate chronically dry skin using a cruelty free method of testing products on a gelatin skin model which mimics collagen. I will investigate how well different ingredients in skin moisturizers work. While many different types of occlusive agents, emollients, humectants, and other ingredients can make up a given moisturizer, in this science project only a few ingredients will be investigated, so it will be easier to draw conclusions about them. Specifically, I will investigate petroleum jelly, mineral oil, glycerin, and triethanolamine (an ingredient sometimes added to skin moisturizers that is suspected of actually causing skin dryness). Background Information/Research:
Dry skin may be lacking in water or important oils that keep the skin moist. Moisturizers usually have many ingredients that should work to add, or keep, oils and water in the skin. Occlusive agents create a physical, protective barrier on the skin which keeps water in. Emollients work by filling in tiny cracks in the skin to smooth out flakes and roughness. Humectants bring water to the skin’s surface from nearby sources, which often means layers deeper in the skin. These types can be represented in ingredients used in moisturizers, such as mineral oil, glycerin, petroleum jelly, and triethanolamine. Hypothesis:
Glycerin will be the most efficient in retaining moisture in the epidermis, because it acts as a humectant. This type of moisturizer has been shown to work well as it draws in moisture to the top layer of the skin from other sources nearby. Methods:
Label the moisturizers being tested and the petri dishes. Prepare gelatin and pour 50 mL of it into each petri dish (5 including the control). Record the weight and height of the gelatin in the petri dishes before testing. Add about 2 tablespoons/30 mL of each moisturizer to its corresponding petri dish (enough to fill the dish) using a syringe. Over the next several days, record weight of each dish and height of moisturizer and gelatin. Analyze the data and create a graph to represent the changes in height and weight over time (percent of initial weight and height maintained). Treating Dry Skin Conditions: What Ingredients Work Best? Materials:
-Petri dishes
-Gelatin mix
-Cooking pot
-Measuring cup
-Syringes
-Moisturizers which represent each ingredient that is being studied
-Scale which measures in grams (to the 0.1 gram)
-Refrigerator
-Ruler which measures in cm Research Question:
Which ingredients (mineral oil, glycerin, petroleum jelly, and triethanolamine) are most efficient in treating chronic dry skin conditions? Why are they the most effective? Bibliography:
Sethi, Anisha et al. “Moisturizers: The Slippery Road” Indian journal of dermatology vol. 61,3 (2016): 279-87.
Science Buddies Staff. "The Skinny on Moisturizers: Which Works Best to Keep Skin Moist?" Science Buddies, 1 Dec. 2018,
Dąbrowska, A. K., et al. “Materials Used to Simulate Physical Properties of Human Skin.” The Canadian Journal of Chemical Engineering, Wiley-Blackwell, 12 June 2015, onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/srt.12235. By: Elizabeth Campbell, WHS Advanced Chemistry, Mr. Spangler Control: -0.37
A (glycerin as 2nd ingredient): -0.32
B (glycerin as 4th or lower ingredient): -0.35
C (mineral oil as 1st ingredient): -0.16
D (100% petroleum jelly): -0.19
E (triethanolamine): -0.26 Conclusion:
Mineral Oil performed the best in this experiment, because the model that was treated with it lost the least amount of weight over time. This means that the moisturizer was able to prevent the water in the skin model from escaping. This ingredient works as an occlusive agent which created a barrier between the skin and the air.<br>
This study aims to further research done in how to treat conditions such as atopic dermatitis. It has been shown that penetration of the skin barrier is the most influential in treating chronic dry skin conditions. However, there is not much research on the most efficient way to hydrate skin. This project aims to provide more information on the best way to hydrate chronically dry skin using a cruelty free method of testing products on a gelatin skin model which mimics collagen. I will investigate how well different ingredients in skin moisturizers work. While many different types of occlusive agents, emollients, humectants, and other ingredients can make up a given moisturizer, in this science project only a few ingredients will be investigated, so it will be easier to draw conclusions about them. Specifically, I will investigate petroleum jelly, mineral oil, glycerin, and triethanolamine (an ingredient sometimes added to skin moisturizers that is suspected of actually causing skin dryness). Background Information/Research:
Dry skin may be lacking in water or important oils that keep the skin moist. Moisturizers usually have many ingredients that should work to add, or keep, oils and water in the skin. Occlusive agents create a physical, protective barrier on the skin which keeps water in. Emollients work by filling in tiny cracks in the skin to smooth out flakes and roughness. Humectants bring water to the skin’s surface from nearby sources, which often means layers deeper in the skin. These types can be represented in ingredients used in moisturizers, such as mineral oil, glycerin, petroleum jelly, and triethanolamine. Hypothesis:
Glycerin will be the most efficient in retaining moisture in the epidermis, because it acts as a humectant. This type of moisturizer has been shown to work well as it draws in moisture to the top layer of the skin from other sources nearby. Methods:
Label the moisturizers being tested and the petri dishes. Prepare gelatin and pour 50 mL of it into each petri dish (5 including the control). Record the weight and height of the gelatin in the petri dishes before testing. Add about 2 tablespoons/30 mL of each moisturizer to its corresponding petri dish (enough to fill the dish) using a syringe. Over the next several days, record weight of each dish and height of moisturizer and gelatin. Analyze the data and create a graph to represent the changes in height and weight over time (percent of initial weight and height maintained). Treating Dry Skin Conditions: What Ingredients Work Best? Materials:
-Petri dishes
-Gelatin mix
-Cooking pot
-Measuring cup
-Syringes
-Moisturizers which represent each ingredient that is being studied
-Scale which measures in grams (to the 0.1 gram)
-Refrigerator
-Ruler which measures in cm Research Question:
Which ingredients (mineral oil, glycerin, petroleum jelly, and triethanolamine) are most efficient in treating chronic dry skin conditions? Why are they the most effective? Bibliography:
Sethi, Anisha et al. “Moisturizers: The Slippery Road” Indian journal of dermatology vol. 61,3 (2016): 279-87.
Science Buddies Staff. "The Skinny on Moisturizers: Which Works Best to Keep Skin Moist?" Science Buddies, 1 Dec. 2018,
Dąbrowska, A. K., et al. “Materials Used to Simulate Physical Properties of Human Skin.” The Canadian Journal of Chemical Engineering, Wiley-Blackwell, 12 June 2015, onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/srt.12235. By: Elizabeth Campbell, WHS Advanced Chemistry, Mr. Spangler Control: -0.37
A (glycerin as 2nd ingredient): -0.32
B (glycerin as 4th or lower ingredient): -0.35
C (mineral oil as 1st ingredient): -0.16
D (100% petroleum jelly): -0.19
E (triethanolamine): -0.26 Conclusion:
Mineral Oil performed the best in this experiment, because the model that was treated with it lost the least amount of weight over time. This means that the moisturizer was able to prevent the water in the skin model from escaping. This ingredient works as an occlusive agent which created a barrier between the skin and the air.<br>