The examination of biophysical parameters of skin (transepidermal water loss, skin hydration and pH value) in different body regions of ponies.

This research article is about a study that examined the rates of water loss, skin hydration levels and pH balances in the skin of ponies in different body parts.

Overview of the Study

• The study observed the levels of transepidermal water loss (TEWL), skin hydration and skin pH in ponies.
• Sixteen ponies were involved in the experiment, with both males and females included.
• Measurements were taken from seven distinct regions on the ponies’ bodies: the neck, shoulder, thorax, lumbar area, inguinal area, lip area, and auricle.

Detailed Findings

• The researchers found out that the rate of transepidermal water loss varied depending on the body region of the pony.
• The lumbar region showed the lowest rate of transepidermal water loss, with a result of 9.71g/hm2.
• The lip area showed the highest rate of water loss through the skin, with a noticeably high reading of 22.35g/hm2.
• When it came to skin hydration levels, similar variations depending on body regions were noticed.
• The thorax exhibited the least skin hydration, valued at 2.13 CU.
• The lip region displayed the highest level of skin hydration, measured at an significantly high 41.81 CU.
• In terms of skin pH, the lowest and highest values were also featured in the lumbar and lip regions respectively.
• The lowest pH result was 6.93 from the lumbar region while the highest pH measured was 7.96 from the lip region.

Implications and Conclusion

• The research findings highlight the variation of important skin parameters across different body regions in ponies. This suggests that care and treatment for ponies’ skin should vary depending on the specific body area.
• The high level of skin hydration and water loss around the lip area might require extra hydration care, whereas the relatively lower pH in the lumbar region might be indicative of different skin character thus, needing specific consideration.