Facial application of high-concentration carbon dioxide prevents epidermal impairment associated with environmental changes

Abstract

Purpose

The transdermal application of carbon dioxide (CO₂) gas dissolved in a solution and bathing in carbonated springs have been known to improve circulatory disorders. We aimed to elucidate and profile the effects of CO₂ application on local skin function.

Patients and methods

A liquid formulation that included high-concentration CO₂ or a control formulation was applied to the face of healthy men for 8 weeks. Quantitative analysis was performed during the dry winter months.

Results

At the site where the control formulation was applied, transepidermal water loss (TEWL) increased while the moisturizing function (conductance) of facial skin decreased during the study period. However, at the CO₂-treated site, increases in TEWL and decreases in conductance were significantly suppressed. In addition, the deterioration in scaliness and wrinkles parameters were suppressed by ≥40% at the CO₂-treated site. There were no significant differences in skin surface pH or color properties between the control and test sites.

Conclusion

This study suggests that the continuous application of a high-concentration CO₂ formulation can affect skin physiology and has the potential to suppress reductions in the barrier and moisturizing functions of the stratum corneum accompanied by desquamation, which occurs during the winter.

Keywords:

• transepidermal water loss
• stratum corneum
• barrier
• desquamation

Acknowledgments

We would like to thank Yuuka Kobayashi-Takahota and Masaru Hosokawa for providing the test samples at Skin Care Laboratories, Kao Corporation. This study was entirely funded by Kao Corporation, Tokyo, Japan.

Author contributions

All authors contributed to data analysis, drafting and revising the article, gave final approval of the version to be published, and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work.

Disclosure

All authors are employees of Kao Corporation, which investigates chemical materials and cosmetic products. The authors report no other conflicts of interest in this work.