Moisture Redistribution in Multiple Layers on ‘Skin’: Identification of Critical Fabric Properties

Many investigations of fabric-skin interaction have focused on transporting moisture away from the skin, but wet wrap therapy requires moisture to be transferred to and retained at the skin surface. In wet wrap therapies, a wet inner layer is covered by a dry outer layer to increase skin moisture content. Limited knowledge exists on factors affecting moisture transfer to the skin and through a layered fabric system. Using changes in mass of the ‘skin’ (Vitro-skin® 19) and fabric layers, moisture transfer (i) from a wet fabric layer to the ‘skin’ and (ii) outwards through a dry layer to the ambient environment were examined and the effects of fiber type, fabric structure, and exposure time on moisture transfer identified. A wet fabric layer, formed from one of two fiber types (wool/polyester, wool), and one of three fabric structures (single jersey, rib 1 × 1, interlock 1 × 1) was wet to 180% of its dry fabric weight before being placed on a synthetic skin (Vitro-skin® 19) for 1–3 h. The wet layer was then either covered with a dry outer layer (nylon, wool, wool/polyester in rib 1 × 1) or had no dry layer. Moisture transfer to the ‘skin’ was greatest and most prolonged when the wet layer was wool interlock and covered with a wool/polyester rib dry layer. Exposure time and the structure of the wet layer strongly influenced moisture transfer. The critical role of the dry layer was confirmed, with greater moisture transfer to the ‘skin’ occurring, regardless of the fiber type of the dry layer, while the absence of a dry layer facilitated moisture loss to the ambient environment.