{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,16]],"date-time":"2026-09-16T08:33:12Z","timestamp":1789547592311,"version":"build-2803163510"},"reference-count":32,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"13","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,7,2]],"date-time":"2025-07-02T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1751414400000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"Programa de Proyectos de Investigaci\u00f3n Precompetitivos para J\u00f3venes Investigadores (P20.b.) of Vicerrectorado de Investigacion y Transferencia, University of Granada","award":["PPJIB-2024-39"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["PPJIB-2024-39"]}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["JCM"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Background\/Objectives: Natural oils are widely promoted and used around the world as part of skincare. Among them, extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) stands out for its broad range of organic compositions and well-known moisturizing properties. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of topically applied EVOO compared to petrolatum on skin barrier function (SBF) and microtopography. Methods: A within-person randomized clinical trial was conducted in healthy adult volunteers. EVOO and petrolatum were applied to defined areas on the volar forearm. Parameters related to the SBF, including stratum corneum hydration (SCH), transepidermal water loss (TEWL), temperature, and erythema, were assessed. The skin microtopography was evaluated through two approaches: (1) topographic parameters\u2014surface roughness, desquamation, smoothness, and wrinkles; and (2) stratum corneum (SC) composition\u2014corneocytes subtypes and the desquamation index (DI). The participants completed a tolerability questionnaire for each product. Results: A total of 54 participants (50% female; mean age: 28.57 \u00b1 11.02 years) completed the study. Both EVOO and petrolatum significantly improved the SBF by increasing SCH and reducing erythema and skin temperature. Petrolatum additionally reduced TEWL. Regarding the skin microtopography, both products decreased the desquamation index and reduced the prevalence of mature corneocyte types (types 2\u20135). These effects were more pronounced with petrolatum. Notably, EVOO significantly increased the proportion of early-stage corneocytes (type 1). Conclusions: Both EVOO and petrolatum effectively enhanced the SBF and improved the microtopographic features of the skin. While petrolatum exerted a stronger occlusive effect by reducing TEWL and desquamation, EVOO uniquely promoted epidermal renewal by increasing epidermal turnover.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/jcm14134675","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,7,2]],"date-time":"2025-07-02T04:11:04Z","timestamp":1751429464000},"page":"4675","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":5,"title":["Effects of Extra Virgin Olive Oil and Petrolatum on Skin Barrier Function and Microtopography"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"14","author":[{"given":"Ana","family":"Rubio-Santoyo","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Medicine Department, School of Medicine, University of Granada, 18016 Granada, Spain"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-3261-6745","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Raquel","family":"Sanabria-de la Torre","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Medicine Department, School of Medicine, University of Granada, 18016 Granada, Spain"},{"name":"Biosanitary Research Institute of Granada (ibs.GRANADA), 18014 Granada, Spain"},{"name":"Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology III and Immunology, University of Granada, 18071 Granada, Spain"},{"name":"Dermatology Department, Virgen de las Nieves University Hospital, 18014 Granada, Spain"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-4035-7955","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Trinidad","family":"Montero-V\u00edlchez","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Medicine Department, School of Medicine, University of Granada, 18016 Granada, Spain"},{"name":"Biosanitary Research Institute of Granada (ibs.GRANADA), 18014 Granada, Spain"},{"name":"Dermatology Department, Virgen de las Nieves University Hospital, 18014 Granada, Spain"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0000-5968-242X","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Mar\u00eda Sierra","family":"Gir\u00f3n-Prieto","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Biosanitary Research Institute of Granada (ibs.GRANADA), 18014 Granada, Spain"},{"name":"Centro de Salud de Armilla, Servicio Andaluz de Salud, 18100 Granada, Spain"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-9084-050X","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Almudena","family":"G\u00f3mez-Farto","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Instituto de Investigaci\u00f3n Biotecnol\u00f3gica, Farmac\u00e9utica y Medicamentos Hu\u00e9rfanos, S.L, 18016 Granada, Spain"},{"name":"Department of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Granada, 18071 Granada, Spain"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-4186-1435","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Salvador","family":"Arias-Santiago","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Medicine Department, School of Medicine, University of Granada, 18016 Granada, Spain"},{"name":"Biosanitary Research Institute of Granada (ibs.GRANADA), 18014 Granada, Spain"},{"name":"Dermatology Department, Virgen de las Nieves University Hospital, 18014 Granada, Spain"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,7,2]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"103","DOI":"10.1007\/s40257-017-0301-1","article-title":"Natural Oils for Skin-Barrier Repair: Ancient Compounds Now Backed by Modern Science","volume":"19","author":"Vaughn","year":"2018","journal-title":"Am. 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