FACTORS THAT INFLUENCE SKIN TEMPERATURE AND COLOR VARIANCE POST SUPERFICIAL HEAT APPLICATION

L. Hidalgo¹, C. Salmon¹, C. Quinones¹, L. Elbaum¹, L. Castroviejo¹, M. Dos Santos¹

¹University of St Augustine for Health Sciences, Physical Therapy, Miami, United States

Background: There is conflicting information about factors that impact a person’s skin reaction to superficial heating agents. Clinicians should be aware various factors may determine skin changes post superficial heat application. Gender and skin color may influence skin response post heat treatment. There is limited literature describing the possible impact of gender and skin color response to heating agents often used in the rehabilitation setting.

Purpose: This study seeks to investigate whether factors such as gender and a person’s skin color influence skin temperature increases and color change during application of a superficial heating agent on healthy subjects.

Methods: 12 subjects consented to participate in the study. The subjects exposed their forearm and paper tape was applied to the antero-lateral aspect of the cubital crease as a marker. A non-contact thermometer measured skin temperature (F), a smartphone captured an image of the area, and an investigator classified the skin color using the Fitzpatrick scale. A moist hot pack (MHP) was removed from the hydrocollator and applied to the skin using 6 layers of towels while the subject was seated. After 8 minutes, the MHP was removed, the skin temperature was reassessed, and another image of the skin was captured. A digital color meter using the CIELAB system was used to quantify skin color before and after. Quantitative data for pre and post temperatures based on gender and skin color were analyzed using Independent T test, and descriptive statistics.

Results: Data analysis indicated an average skin temperature increase of 4.5 °F for all subjects (SD=1.4 °F). Post application temperature change by gender or skin color showed no significant differences (p=0.76 and p=0.78). Post application temperature average and variance: Women 101.7°F and 3.9 compared to men 101.4°F and 0.9. Post application temperature average and variance based on Fitzpatrick scale (skin color): Type 1, 2 and 3 subjects 101.5°F and 2.6 compared to Types 5 and 6 subjects 101.6 °F and 0.3. There was no correlation between temperature change due to skin color and gender. The largest temperature variance was present between women subjects and individuals with lighter skin color. Skin color changes post application of MHP revealed increased redness (20%) and decreased green (27%) for Fitzpatrick Type 1 or 2 subjects while darkening of skin tone with decreased redness (14%) and green (4%) was observed among subjects with Types 5 and 6 skin.

Conclusions: Subjects with darker skin showed different changes in skin color secondary to vasodilation than those with lighter skin with some variability within each group. Women compared to men on average experienced slightly greater increased temperatures with more variability post application of MHP. Subjects with varying skin color based on the Fitzpatrick scale experienced similar temperature changes post MHP application.

Implications: Skin color and temperature changes secondary to MHP application varied due to gender and skin pigment. Clinicians should be aware of the influence of various factors when making clinical decisions related to the selection and application of superficial heating modalities.

Funding acknowledgements: No funding received for this research study

Keywords:
Skin color
Superficial heat
Temperature changes

Topics:
Disability & rehabilitation
Musculoskeletal

Did this work require ethics approval? Yes

Institution: University of Saint Augustine for Health Sciences

Committee: IRB

Ethics number: PT-0806-437