Space agency opts for C + K skin ageing devices in physiological tests

12-Aug-2013 - Last updated on 13-Aug-2013 at 10:34 GMT

The European Space Agency has chosen ‘Courage + Khazaka’s’ skin measurement devices for its International Space Station (ISS) in an effort to verify the process of skin ageing in space.

The Corneometer, Tewameter and Visioscan devices were given the go ahead to be used in the ‘SKIN B’ project by Kayser-Threde, and has been sponsored by the space agency Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e.V.

Dermatology experts Wilfried Courage and Prof. Gabriel Khazaka established the Germany-based company back in 1986, where they were the first to introduce scientific measurement tools to objectively quantify parameters on the skin.

Project is already underway on-board the ISS

Operation 'SKIN B' is a successor study of the initial mission of 'SKIN CARE' in 2006, where the devices have already been used to measure skin hydration, waterloss and the structure of the skin in space.

Vice president of C+K, George Khazaka tells CosmeticsDesign-Europe.com that his company was chosen for this operation as “Nobody else offers such a complete range of measurement parameter.”

Now back on board the Soyuz rocket, ESA astronaut Luca Parmitano is using them to measure skin elasticity, which was examined with the Cutometer before the flight and will be measured again when Parmitano will return to earth.

Study will lead the way in skin ageing research in the future

The most recent venture, experts reckon could show amongst other findings, skin problems like itching or scaly skin, delayed wound healing and allergies against certain materials.

And most importantly, that during a six month exposure in space, skin ageing is accelerated compared to the ageing process on the earth, which space experts promise can be reversible after one year.

"At the same time the skin is representing also other organs epithel or connective tissue. Thus changes in the skin may also indicated other systemic diseases."

All going to plan, the experts reckon this in the future, will give way to interesting skin ageing work in time lapse performed in the laboratory of the ISS.

The findings of the initial SKIN CARE project, are now further being investigated by the university of Witten-Herdecke, directed by Prof. Heinrich.