COVID-19: Talc, petroleum jelly among best lubricants for people wearing PPE, study says

London, Sep 26 (PTI) Scientists have found that petroleum jelly and talcum powder are most likely to provide long-lasting skin protection to those wearing personal protective equipment (PPE), an advance that may help healthcare workers prevent injury from prolonged use of masks and visors amidst COVID-19 pandemic.

According to study, published in journal PLOS ONE, best lubricants to use are those that don't absorb into skin, creating a long-lasting layer of protection between skin and PPE.

scientists, including those from Imperial College London in UK, ted that wearing PPE like face visors, goggles, and respiratory protective equipment have become an essential part of working life for frontline healthcare workers during COVID-19 pandemic, y said more workers are wearing facial PPE w than ever before, often for extended periods of time, to protect m against SARS-CoV-2 virus.

However, researchers said extended PPE use, particularly on delicate skin of face, can cause friction and shear injuries like skin tears, blistering, ulcers, and hives.

In order to reduce effects of friction and shear, workers are advised to apply lubricants every half hour, which y said can be impractical during shift work and may expose workers to virus.

scientists added that many typical moisturisers do t last long as y are designed to be absorbed into skin for a 'n-greasy feel'.

"We think of moisturisers as good for our skin, but commercial skin creams are often designed to absorb into skin without leaving any residue," said study lead author Marc Masen from Imperial College London.

"While this is fine for everyday moisturising, our study shows that a greasy residue is precisely what's needed to protect skin from PPE friction," Masen said.

In research, scientists custom-built a tribometer -- an instrument that assesses friction between two surfaces -- and used it to test friction between skin and polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), which is a common component of PPE.

y tested commercially available products to measure how y changed friction between PDMS and inner forearm skin of a healthy 44-year-old male participant, testing friction upon application.

researchers repeated testing process one, two, and four hours after application.

study found that while most products initially reduced friction by 20 per cent, some silicone-based and water-and-glycerin based lubricants increased friction levels over time by up to 29 per cent compared to dry skin.

However, scientists said two products reduced friction as time went on.

According to study, talcum powder reduced friction by 49 per cent on application and 59 per cent at four hours, and a commercially available product comprising coconut oil, cocoa butter, and beeswax reduced friction by 31 per cent on application and 53 per cent at four hours.

scientists said a mixture of petrolatum and lalin reduced friction by 30 per cent throughout testing.

y found that when applying commercial moisturisers, friction on application was low, but increased drastically within ten minutes of application.

researchers explained that this is because active ingredients, kwn as humectants, attract water like magnets from lower layers of skin to upper ones, leaving it soft, unlubricated, and breakable.

" products that don't absorb easily into skin are ones that provide a protective layer. In fact, for PPE wearers, it's best to actively avoid creams and moisturisers which advertise a 'n-greasy feel'," said study co-author Zhengchu Tan.

"Friction can be incredibly damaging for skin, particularly when applied for an extended period. We hope our study will save healthcare workers and or frontline PPE wearers from suffering with painful and damaging effects of skin friction," Masen said.

researchers believe findings may help PPE wearers seek best skin-saving products. PTI VIS VIS