A comparative study on the effectiveness of application techniques of tissue oil enriched with Rooibos (Aspalathus Linearis) extract on dehydrated skin of women aged between 18 and 45 years

Abstract

Human skin is the largest organ in the body and constitutes the first line of defense as it offers protection to the underlying structures such as the muscles, bones, ligaments and internal organs. Daily, the skin comes into contact with the environment and plays an important role in protecting the body against excessive water loss and dangerous pathogens. Due to these factors, the skin can develop conditions such as dehydration, sensitivity, sagging or dryness. Thus, women are constantly seeking effective and speedy treatments to increase the hydration levels and improve the appearance of their skins. This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of two different application techniques, (hot oil mask and Swedish massage), using Rooibos-enriched tissue oil on dehydrated skin of women to assist in establishing which application method was the most effective. The findings of this comparative study will provide Somatologists with the knowledge of the quickest and most effective treatment techniques when using this tissue oil to treat dehydrated skin for women between the ages of 18 and 45 years. An experimental design, using a pre-test and post-test method to compare participant groups was administered. Purposive sampling was used as only females between the ages of 18-45 years of age who were clinically diagnosed by a dermatologist with evidence of existing dehydration and measured on the Fitzpatrick scale between 3–5, were included in the study. The sample size comprised of sixty-two (n=62) participants. Participants (students and staff) were recruited from the Cape University of Technology in the Cape Province, South Africa. The Bt-AnalyzeTM skin identification and the Multi-skin test Centre 750® were used to perform the skin evaluations. The findings suggest that both the Swedish massage (p=0.000 to 0.003 across the different age groups) and the hot oil mask applications (p=0.000 to 0.004 across the different age groups) reflected a significant improvement in the hydration levels of the skin after just three applications (30%). Observations of clinical photographs suggested that the Swedish massage applications were visibly more effective for the age group 18-23 years(p=0.000) and 36-41(p=0.002), compared to the hot oil mask applications which appeared visibly more effective for the age groups 30-35(p=0.001) and 42-45(p=0.000). However, the TEWL values were statistically significant for all age groups except for the age group 30-35 (p<0.363), 36-41 (p<0.952) and 42- 45 (p<0.544). Upon completion of the study, all participants showed an improvement in hydration levels within the physiological parameters of the skin. The skin appeared visibly less dry with fewer fine lines. Participants who had previously reported experiencing flaky or taut skin, were more comfortable and satisfied with the texture of their skin post treatment as it felt smoother. In general, the tissue oil with rooibos extract had a positive hydrating effect on the skin irrespective of the application method although age did have an influence. Most of the improvements occurred after the first application of the product. Factors such as age, product usage, water consumption and exercise do influence the skin hydration levels. Therefore, these factors should be considered as future recommendations when designing treatment programmes for improving skin hydration levels. Finally, massage oil application methods should be incorporated into treatments designed for the younger age groups (under 40 years) and the hot oil mask is recommended for mature skin (over 40 years) to achieve the best results.