JOURNAL OF COSMETIC SCIENCE 276 marked differences in skin erythema and pH in the treated forearm skin as compared with baseline values. In addition, the short-lived increase in TEWL directly after mud removal confi rms no negative impact of mud on skin integrity. Furthermore, the results showed a short-lived hydration effect of DSM on skin and the importance of boosting the mud with other valuable additives to enhance its skin hydration benefi ts. Figure 3. TEWL for forearms treated with “As Is” mud (n = 20) (A), salted mud (n = 20) (B), over-the-shelf mud (n = 20) (C), and gel (n = 15) (D) at baseline, directly, 30 min, and 60 min after mud removal, compared with untreated forearms. Values represented as mean ± SEM. Figu re 4. Changes in skin hydration (Δhydration) and TEWL (ΔTEWL) from baseline values for forearms treated with “As Is” mud (n = 20), salted mud (n = 20), over-the-shelf mud (n = 20), and gel (n = 15) directly after mud removal. Values represented as mean ± SEM.

CUTANEOUS EFFECTS OF DEAD SEA MUD 277 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS This project was funded by the Scientifi c Research Fund, Ministry of Higher Education and Scientifi c Research, Jordan (grant number: 2008/19/ ﻁ ﺹ/ 2) and was supported by the Hashemite University through the use of Skin Biophysical Measurements facilities at the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences. The authors would like to acknowledge Dr. Hatim S. AlKhatib (Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Jordan) for his helpful suggestions and discussions. REFERENCES (1) H. Matz, E. Orion, and R. Wolf, Balneotherapy in dermatology, Dermatol. Ther., 16(2), 132–140 (2003). (2) D. J. Abels, T. Rose, and J. E. Bearman, Trea tment of psoriasis at a Dead sea dermatology clinic, Int. J. Dermatol., 34(2), 134–137 (1995). T able III pH Values for Forearms Treated with “As Is” Mud (n = 20), Salted Mud (n = 20), Over-the-Shelf Mud (n = 20), and Gel (n = 15), at Baseline, Directly, 30 Min, and 60 Min after Mud Removal, Compared with Untreated Forearms “As Is” mud Time pH—“As Is” mud pH—control Baseline 5.47 ± 0.12 5.47 ± 0.13 Direct 6.23 ± 0.07 6.25 ± 0.07 30 min 6.27 ± 0.07 6.16 ± 0.07 60 min 6.24 ± 0.07 6.19 ± 0.09 Salted mud Time pH—salted mud pH—control Baseline 5.72 ± 0.15 5.73 ± 0.15 Direct 6.27 ± 0.07 6.32 ± 0.06 30 min 6.29 ± 0.07 6.28 ± 0.06 60 min 6.29 ± 0.08 6.30 ± 0.06 Over-the-shelf mud Time pH—over-the-shelf mud pH—control Baseline 5.98 ± 0.17 6.10 ± 0.21 Direct 6.57 ± 0.08 6.60 ± 0.08 30 min 6.49 ± 0.10 6.53 ± 0.10 60 min 6.52 ± 0.09 6.50 ± 0.09 Gel Time pH—gel pH—control Baseline 6.02 ± 0.22 6.13 ± 0.22 Direct 6.53 ± 0.05 6.55 ± 0.11 30 min 6.53 ± 0.06 6.56 ± 0.07 60 min 6.52 ± 0.07 6.57 ± 0.08 Values represented as mean ± SEM.