Thermoregulatory vs. event sweating--comparison of clinical methodologies, physiology and results.

OBJECTIVES: Although the mechanisms of sweating due to thermoregulation vs. stress are distinct, the antiperspirant industry focuses primarily on perspiration due to heat as their method of efficacy testing. To better understand the overall protection afforded by a 'Clinical Strength' over-the-counter antiperspirant product, we compare results from a standard hot-room study with results from two studies using the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST). METHODS: For each study, unscented antiperspirant was applied to one axilla, leaving the other untreated for internal control. The hot-room protocol involved a 40-min warm-up period with 2-20 min sweat collections at 100 ± 2 °F (35% RH). The TSST requires naïve subjects to give an impromptu speech and conduct mental arithmetic, with collections of sweat, heart rate and other biomarkers of stress before, during and after the event. RESULTS: During the TSST, heart rate and salivary cortisol data indicate significant emotional stress. Wetness results show that sweat was reduced by 69.4% in the hot-room study, compared with 83.7% and 89.3% reductions in the stress studies. CONCLUSION: We have found added value in investigating antiperspirancy from several causes of sweat production to give a more encompassing picture of the protection afforded by an antiperspirant product, specifically wetness protection from heat, activity and stress-induced sweat.

Clinical studies of sweat rate reduction by an over-the-counter soft-solid antiperspirant and comparison with a prescription antiperspirant product in male panelists.

BACKGROUND: Individuals with axillary hyperhidrosis have much higher than average sweat rates and are often prescribed anhydrous aluminum chloride (AlCl(3)) solutions. Topical application of these solutions can be irritating to the skin, resulting in poor compliance and lower than desired efficacy. OBJECTIVE: Demonstrate the efficacy of an over the counter "clinical strength" soft-solid antiperspirant using a night time application regimen and compare to a prescription aluminum chloride (6.5%) antiperspirant using male panelists. METHODS: Gravimetric hot room efficacy testing (100 F and 35% Humidity) was performed comparing an over the counter soft-solid antiperspirant to placebo in a single test. Two separate gravimetric tests were placed comparing a prescription aluminum chloride (6.5%) antiperspirant to the same soft solid product using an intent to treat model. Skin irritation was assessed daily by a trained grader. RESULTS: Placebo testing resulted in 85% of panelists having a reduction in sweating rate greater than 50%. Comparison testing showed the over the counter soft solid reduced sweat rate by an average of 34% better than the prescription product while resulting significantly less skin irritation. CONCLUSIONS: Over the counter "clinical strength" soft-solid antiperspirants can be considered as an alternative treatment to aluminum chloride antiperspirants for the treatment of heavy sweating.

The use of fluorescent probe molecules for detection in capillary electrokinetic separations.

On-column fluorescence labeling using hydrophobic probe molecules is described for the enhancement of detection in capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) and micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography (MECC). Experimental details are presented for the detection of alkyl sulfate surfactant/micelle systems using the probe 2-p-toluidinonaphthalene-6-sulfonate. Using this labeling scheme, laser fluorimetry is employed to determine sodium dodecyl sulfate in a generic, commercial soap product. The influence of probe molecule concentration on calibration plots and analyte mobility is also presented. The utility of indirect detection for MECC is demonstrated with the addition of 1-anilinonaphthalene-8-sulfonate to the micellar mobile phase. A brief discussion of the analytical merits of this mode of detection is presented.

Pharmaceutical analysis using micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography.

The potential utility in pharmaceutical analysis of a capillary electrokinetic separation technique that employs a micellar "pseudo-stationary phase" is discussed and illustrated. Chromatograms of separations of vitamin metabolites and derivatized amino acids are presented to illustrate the high efficiency of the technique and the ability to simultaneously separate the charged and neutral components of pharmaceutical samples. The analytical characteristics of the technique and the importance of optimizing experimental parameters, such as surfactant concentration and capillary column diameter, are discussed and demonstrated with the aid of chromatograms.