Evaluating and reducing xerosis in competitive swimmers: an in vitro study and randomized controlled clinical trial

Xerosis is a common problem with significant sequelae in competitive swimmers, and it results from transepidermal water loss. This study evaluates moisture barriers for reducing xerosis in competitive swimmers. An artificial skin model was used to evaluate five products. Models were measured for changes in thickness and weight over 7 days. The optimal barrier was tested in a randomized controlled trial (RCT) of 20 swimmers. Skin moisture content was serially measured. Skin micrographs were scored in a blinded fashion. The moisture barrier #1 treated skin model at day 7 maintained a mean thickness of 7.08 mm versus 2.38 mm for control (<i>p</i> = .0001). The mean weights of group 1 treated and control groups at day 7 were 40.1 and 8.65 g (<i>p</i> = .03). In the RCT, the group treated with moisture barrier #1 and the controls exhibited low moisture content and moderate xerosis scores at baseline. At week 3, moisture measurements for treated and control groups were 28.6% and 18.2% (<i>p</i> = .003). The mean xerosis scores for the treated and control groups were 8.5 and 12.9 (<i>p</i> = .0008). Artificial skin preservation varied for five commercially available moisture barriers. Moisture barrier application improved moisture content and reduced xerosis in competitive swimmers.