Factors Governing the Wet Sensation of Human skin

Abstract

In order to study the mechanism of wet sensation of the human skin, two series of the experiments were conducted. In the experiment I, wet filter paper was used as the wet stimulator and the effects of size of stimulator (12.5cm, 7.5cm, 5cm, 2.5cm), on the wet sensation were examined on the 26 body regions of 5 female subjects. In the experiment II, wet cotton knit fabric was used as the wet stimulator and the effects of water temperature, water amount, weight and sliding motion of stimulator on the wet sensation were examined on the 6 body regions of 10 female subjects. As a result, thermal factors such as temperature difference and heat flow between wet stimulator and the skin, were the most effective factors governing the wet sensation. The dynamic factors such as weight, pressure and amount of water were also effective but less than thermal factors. The regional differences of the sensitivity of wet sensation suggested the relationship between wet sensation and the density of somatic-sensation such as thermal spots and tactile spots. © 1995, The Japan Research Association for Textile End-Uses. All rights reserved.