Abstract
Elastic property is an important factor of skin touch through which we sense the condition of the skin. From the viewpoint of cosmetics and toiletries, stratum corneum is most important because it is the surface layer of the skin and is directly affected by the variety of environmental factors. In this study, we have measured the stiffness of the stratum corneum in vivo with a commercially available suction device (Cutometer) and in vitro with a uniaxial tensile tester. In the Cutometer measurement, the aspiration pressure was increased linearly with time to detect subtle deformation of the stratum corneum. Using these methods, we could detect the decrease in the stiffness following the application of glycerin both in vivo and in vitro. These results suggest that our measurement methods are useful when evaluating the feeling of skin touch affected by daily events.
