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Changes of the skin barrier and bacterial colonization after

hair removal by clipper and by razor

Jung S, Richter H, Darvin M, Schanzer S, Kramer A, Patzelt A, Meinke M, Lademann J. doi: 10.18287/JBPE16.02.020303

ABSTRACT

Background: Inappropriate hair removal increases the risk of surgical siteinfections which are associated with a higher morbidity and mortality of surgicalpatients. Here, the effects of a clipping device and a disposable razor on the skin barrier,microbial burden and surface structure were compared. Methods: Changes in bacterialcolonization, transepidermal water loss, antioxidant status and the skin surfacestructure were investigated on the calves of 12 healthy volunteers. Measurement timepoints were at baseline (tbase) and 24 hours after hair removal (t24). Results: Both, thedisposable razor and the clipper showed a decrease in log colony-forming units countfrom tbase (mean(tbase) ± standard deviation = 2.6 ± 1.27, median ± standard error =2.6 ± 0.37) to t24 at prazo r= 0.05 and pclipper = 0.06 respectively. At t24 clipping resulted ina higher reduction of log colony-forming units (mean(t24) = 1.76 ± 0.8, median =1.69 ± 0.23) compared to the use of the disposable razor (mean(t24) = 1.84 ± 0.85,median = 1.91 ± 0.24). Furthermore, the razor-treated group showed an increase incolony-forming units from t0 to t24, whereas clipping lead to a continuous decrease incolony-forming units from t0 to t24. An enhanced appearance of microlesions and asignificant increase of transepidermal water loss after shaving using the disposablerazor (p = 0.005) were found indicating skin barrier disruptions. Clipping showed nosignificant effect on transepidermal water loss. Conclusion: Hair removal using theclipping device results in less disruption of the skin barrier compared to the razor,avoiding the development of microlesions. This could be favorable for the prevention ofsurgical side infections and postoperative wound management.

© 2016 Journal of Biomedical Photonics & Engineering.

Keywords: preoperative hair removal, skin barrier disruption, post-operative,postsurgical infection, clipping.

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