{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,1]],"date-time":"2026-04-01T10:59:52Z","timestamp":1775041192595,"version":"3.50.1"},"reference-count":23,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"3","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2019,9,15]],"date-time":"2019-09-15T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1568505600000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Cosmetics"],"abstract":"<jats:p>The use of mineral water for therapeutic purposes has varied from century to century and from country to country. Its effectiveness depends on the individual experiences of the population and their cultural traditions. Usually, the waters recommended for dermatological treatment are hot springs that contain sulfur or more recently, silicon. The mechanisms by which mineral waters actuate in dermatological disorders are still not clear but it is believed that they involve thermal, mechanical, chemical, immunologic, and anti-oxidant reactions and enzymatic activity. The aim of this study is to characterize the thermal waters of Monfortinho, one of the oldest Portuguese spas, their potential use for the preparation of dermatological formulations (creams), and their effectiveness on the treatment of skin disorders (psoriasis and eczema). To accomplish this, cream formulations with different contents of thermal water were developed. The formulations were characterized in terms of thermal water analysis and physicochemical properties and their effects were studied by skin biometrics in adults (mean age of 54.3 years old) through skin hydration evaluation and evaluated in clinical studies on 22 patients with psoriasis and eczema. The results showed that all the formulations improved the skin hydration and have beneficial effects in relieving the symptoms of psoriasis and other disorders, but no significant differences were observed when thermal water was used (compared to laboratory ultra-pure water).<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/cosmetics6030056","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2019,9,16]],"date-time":"2019-09-16T03:17:57Z","timestamp":1568603877000},"page":"56","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":15,"title":["Monfortinho Thermal Water-Based Creams: Effects on Skin Hydration, Psoriasis, and Eczema in Adults"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"6","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-6872-9127","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Cristina","family":"Almeida","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa 1649003, Portugal"}]},{"given":"Ana","family":"Madeira","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa 1649003, Portugal"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-5523-5622","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Joana","family":"Marto","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa 1649003, Portugal"}]},{"given":"Ang\u00e9lica","family":"Gra\u00e7a","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa 1649003, Portugal"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-5723-0750","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Pedro","family":"Pinto","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa 1649003, Portugal"},{"name":"PhD Trials, Rua das Murtas, Lisboa 1700309, Portugal"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-2429-7991","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Helena","family":"Ribeiro","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa 1649003, Portugal"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2019,9,15]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"637","DOI":"10.1016\/S0738-081X(96)00097-1","article-title":"Mineral water and spas in Portugal","volume":"14","author":"Picoto","year":"1996","journal-title":"Clin. Dermatol."},{"key":"ref_2","unstructured":"Association TdP (2016, April 27). Termas de Monfortinho. Available online: http:\/\/www.termasdeportugal.pt\/estanciastermais\/Termas-de-Monfortinho."},{"key":"ref_3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"346","DOI":"10.1046\/j.1468-3083.2000.00136.x","article-title":"Balneology today","volume":"14","author":"Ghersetich","year":"2000","journal-title":"J. Eur. Acad. Dermatol."},{"key":"ref_4","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"23","DOI":"10.2147\/CCID.S39082","article-title":"Thermal waters as cosmeceuticals: La Roche-Posay thermal spring water example","volume":"6","author":"Seite","year":"2013","journal-title":"Clin. Cosmet. Investig. Dermatol."},{"key":"ref_5","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"205","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1468-2494.2010.00527.x","article-title":"Effect of S\u00e3o Pedro do Sul thermal water on skin irritation","volume":"32","author":"Ferreira","year":"2010","journal-title":"Int. J. Cosmet. Sci."},{"key":"ref_6","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"171","DOI":"10.1159\/000288163","article-title":"Enhanced Absorption through Damaged Skin: An Overview of the in vitro Human Model","volume":"23","author":"Gattu","year":"2010","journal-title":"Ski. Pharmacol. Physiol."},{"key":"ref_7","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2","DOI":"10.1159\/000314995","article-title":"Modest but Increased Penetration through Damaged Skin: An Overview of the in vivo Human Model","volume":"24","author":"Gattu","year":"2011","journal-title":"Skin Pharmacol. Phys."},{"key":"ref_8","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"784","DOI":"10.1046\/j.1365-4362.1999.00789.x","article-title":"Sensory analysis of four medical spa spring waters containing various mineral concentrations","volume":"38","author":"Meges","year":"1999","journal-title":"Int. J. Dermatol."},{"key":"ref_9","unstructured":"Fabre, P. (2018, April 10). Av\u00e8ne 2016. Available online: http:\/\/www.eau-thermale-avene.fr\/eau-thermale\/apaisement-anti-irritation\/eau-thermale-avene."},{"key":"ref_10","unstructured":"Uriage (2018, April 10). Thermal Center: l\u2019eau de la Peau 2016. Available online: http:\/\/www.uriage.com\/AA\/en\/the-thermal-center."},{"key":"ref_11","unstructured":"Clesceri, L., Greenberg, A., and Eaton, A. (2005). Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater, American Public Association. [21th ed.]."},{"key":"ref_12","unstructured":"International Organization for Standardization I (1993). Water Quality\u2014Determination of Permanganate Index, Internation Organization for Standardization. ISO 8467:1993."},{"key":"ref_13","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"392","DOI":"10.1002\/ffj.3393","article-title":"Characterization of Portuguese Thymbra capitata, Thymus caespititius and Myrtus communis essential oils in topical formulations","volume":"32","author":"Neves","year":"2017","journal-title":"Flavour Fragr. J."},{"key":"ref_14","first-page":"866","article-title":"Potential Health Impacts of Hard Water","volume":"4","author":"Sengupta","year":"2013","journal-title":"Int. J. Prev. Med."},{"key":"ref_15","unstructured":"Lod\u00e9n, M., and Maibach, H. (2006). Effect of moisturizers on the structure of lipids in the outer stratum corneum of humans. Dry Skin and Moisturizers, Chemistry and Function, CRC Press. [2nd ed.]."},{"key":"ref_16","unstructured":"Lod\u00e9n, M., and Maibach, H. (2006). Just a moisturizer? biological and biophysical effects. Dry Skin and Moisturizers, Chemistry and Function, CRC Press. [2nd ed.]."},{"key":"ref_17","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"112","DOI":"10.1159\/000441586","article-title":"Treatments Improving Skin Barrier Function","volume":"49","year":"2016","journal-title":"Curr. Probl. Dermatol."},{"key":"ref_18","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"286","DOI":"10.1016\/j.clindermatol.2011.08.015","article-title":"Effect of moisturizers on epidermal barrier function","volume":"30","year":"2012","journal-title":"Clin. Dermatol."},{"key":"ref_19","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"330","DOI":"10.1002\/ejlt.201200239","article-title":"From coffee industry waste materials to skin-friendly products with improved skin fat levels","volume":"115","author":"Ribeiro","year":"2013","journal-title":"Eur. J. Lipid Sci. Technol."},{"key":"ref_20","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"368","DOI":"10.3390\/cosmetics2040368","article-title":"A Novel Cassia fistula (L.)-Based Emulsion Elicits Skin Anti-Aging Benefits in Humans","volume":"2","author":"Barkat","year":"2015","journal-title":"Cosmetics"},{"key":"ref_21","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"260","DOI":"10.1046\/j.1468-3083.2002.00452.x","article-title":"Alternative treatment of psoriasis with balneotherapy using Leopoldine spa water","volume":"16","author":"Menchini","year":"2002","journal-title":"J. Eur. Acad. Dermatol. Venereol."},{"key":"ref_22","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"31","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1473-2165.2007.00291.x","article-title":"Comparative benefit of two thermal spring waters after photodynamic therapy procedure","volume":"6","author":"Goldman","year":"2007","journal-title":"J. Cosmet. Dermatol."},{"key":"ref_23","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"771","DOI":"10.2165\/00128071-200304110-00005","article-title":"Role of topical emollients and moisturizers in the treatment of dry skin barrier disorders","volume":"4","year":"2003","journal-title":"Am. J. Clin. Dermatol."}],"container-title":["Cosmetics"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2079-9284\/6\/3\/56\/pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,11]],"date-time":"2025-10-11T13:20:22Z","timestamp":1760188822000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2079-9284\/6\/3\/56"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2019,9,15]]},"references-count":23,"journal-issue":{"issue":"3","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2019,9]]}},"alternative-id":["cosmetics6030056"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/cosmetics6030056","relation":{},"ISSN":["2079-9284"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2079-9284","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2019,9,15]]}}}