Influence of Evaporative Forces Upon Skin Temperature Dependency of Human Perspiration

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Abstract
Plots of skin water losses against avg. skin temp., using exptl. results from human exposures to combined conditions of heat, humidity, wind and low air pressure, reveal significant residual variation. Since the direction and magnitude of these variations are such as to increase or decrease evaporation from the skin, the phenomenon has been designated the "evaporative effect." This effect cannot be explained in terms of the assumption that a skin temp. change is intermediary to any skin water loss response to changed environmental evaporative influences. Basic evidence for the evaporative effect was derived from 4 sets of data which concern pertinent variables and confirm the generality of the phenomenon. In addition, ample corroboration of the wind and humidity influences was found by reanalyzing data from the literature. Explanation for the evaporative effect was sought in skin water transfers not involving active sweat gland participation, in known processes of diffusion (insensible) losses and skin water storage shifts, and in penetration, repenetration and osmotic regulation in the skin. Evidence for each was analyzed; further investigation may reveal the mechanism of the evaporative effect.

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