Differences between Cheeks and Dorsal Hands Skin Properties during Skiing in a Cold and Windy Environment

Abstract

Background/Purpose: The skin protects against external factors and this skin function can be affected by environmental conditions, including low temperature, low humidity, and high altitude. Therefore, it is important to study the relationship between the environment and the skin. The purpose of this study is to determine how the skin barrier functions change at low temperatures. Methods: This study was performed at a Korean ski resort on January 2015 and evaluated 10 subjects skin condition during skiing. Skin properties were examined at 2 sites (cheeks and dorsal hands) and four time points (indoor; baseline, outdoor; after first skiing and after second skiing, indoor; after taking a shower). Results: The skin hydration on the cheek decreased after the second skiing session and the erythema decreased only after the first skiing while this value on dorsal hand was not changed by skiing. The brightness and yellowness of cheek skin increased and redness decreased therefore, skin color became pale during skiing. The extensibility of cheeks and dorsal hands decreased after skiing. We found positive correlation between skin temperature and redness ( r 2 = 0.707, p < 0.000). Also the skin properties changed according to ambient temperature. The cheek skin temperature, erythema, redness and extensibility increased when people moved from outdoor to indoor while skin brightness and yellowness decreased. The skin hydration on both cheeks and dorsal hands and the skin properties except skin temperature of dorsal hands didn’t change significantly. Conclusions: Low temperatures can affect human skin color so that the skin color becomes pale because capillary blood vessels shrink when skin is exposed to cold environment. The cheek skin tends to change easily than dorsal hand during ambient temperature change.