Evaporation mixing mimics recovery delays

Researchers are asking whether skin-barrier recovery slows with age after treatment, or whether an instrument blends several water sources into a misleading delay. The proposed mechanism is that one evaporative reading combines water crossing the skin’s protective outer layer, sweat and water left after washing. Stressor order can also change these contributions and skin temperature. The test compares treated and young participants before and after separating each source. If raw readings retain differences between groups linked to stressor order but the age-related difference disappears, that would support the measurement explanation. Equivalent barrier function, heat loss and comfort would also be required.