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J. soc. cos. CHEM. 15, 509-518 (1964) MEASURING THE EFFECTS OF TOPICAL PREPARATIONS UPON THE HEALING OF SKIN WOUNDS By SID•½•-¾ Govr, PH.D., and IRVIN( LEVENSTEIN, PH.D.* Presented September 2¾-25, I963, Seminar, Boston, Mass. ABSTRACT Topically applied substances often come in contact with skin wounds. The effects of a number of such preparations on the healing of a standardized, surgically inflicted skin wound were studied. Using the mouse as the experimental animal, a direct relationship was found between lapsed time of repair and wound strength, as measured tensiometrically. The wound tensile strength of control (untreated) mice was compared with that of •roups of animals treated with prep- arations which had been reported to have an effect on healing. Results are given on the effects of treatment with ointments containing fat soluble vitamins, Aloe vera extract, a fluorinated corticosteroid, the same cortlcosteroid in a cream base, an allantoin-coal tar mixture, a pantothenylol cream, and the steam distillate from Artemisia tri- denrata. The determination of the tensile strength of segments of healing skin wounds appears to be a valuable tool in the study of the effects of topical agents. Cosmetic and drug preparations are frequently applied to skin area which have been cut or otherwise injured. This may be done intentionally for the purpose of the treatment, or it may be coincidental to the primary use of the preparation. Regardless of the reason, it is important to have some knowledge of the effects of these substances upon the healing of wounds. An investigation was undertaken in our laboratory to determine whether the effects of topically applied preparations on the healing of skin wounds could be measured quantitatively. Research in skin physiology has made clearer many of the biochemical, physiological and histological changes that take place as injured tissue is * Leberco Laboratories, Roselie Park, N..[. 509