The major benefit provided by SyDERMA® is the addition of an extra layer of protection for the wearer's skin against harmful, external environmental irritants and possible cross contamination or infection from bacteria. The ingredients present in SyDERMA® greatly enhance the natural ability of the skin to protect against bacterial invasion. Tests conducted by independent, FDA registered medical laboratories on SyDERMA® have proven that it is effective against gram negative and gram-positive bacteria.

Due to the product's ability to remain present and effective on the skin surface for up to six hours, it provides an extended period of protection for the wearer against environmental contaminants. It also provides the wearer with the confidence that comes from the knowledge that they have an effective additional level of skin protection, particularly if they wear latex gloves. Should the latex glove become compromised for any reason, the wearer would have the additional protection offered by SyDERMA® against harmful, external environmental irritants and infection caused by bacteria commonly found on the skin. We recommend the continuing use of commonly accepted established practices of skin protection in conjunction with the use of SyDERMA®.

A certified chemical and microbiological testing laboratory conducted a series of tests on SyDERMA®. Among these tests was a Human Hand Acid Abuse test, which was conducted to ascertain SyDERMA®'s ability to protect the hand from assault by concentrated hydrochloric acid in a routine working environment. Human test subjects applied SyDERMA® to their hands according to the label directions. Concentrated hydrochloric acid was then poured onto their hands with no harmful effects. The subjects then went about their routine activities without any further application of SyDERMA®. Each hour for the following six (6) hours, their hands were again subjected to concentrated hydrochloric acid with no harmful effects, thereby proving SyDERMA®'s ability to protect human skin from harmful, external environmental irritants for an extended period of time.

Additional tests were done with SyDERMA® and hydrochloric acid to further determine its barrier effectiveness. Aluminum foil samples were prepared and coated with SyDERMA® and allowed to dry. Identical samples of aluminum foil were prepared and allowed to remain uncoated. Hydrochloric acid in concentrations of 80% and 40% were then poured onto both the SyDERMA® coated samples and the uncoated samples. The time for burn-through was recorded. Eighty percent (80%) hydrochloric acid burned through the uncoated samples in less than two (2) minutes and forty percent (40%) hydrochloric acid burned though in less than eight (8) minutes. Both concentrations of hydrochloric acid were allowed to remain on the SyDERMA® coated samples for over an hour. No burn-through of the SyDERMA® coated samples occurred, thus demonstrating its unique protective barrier characteristics.

In vitro tests were conducted with SyDERMA® to determine its effectiveness as a barrier to a variety of common, everyday solutions one might encounter. The control samples (without SyDERMA®) allowed immediate penetration of the test solution while those coated with SyDERMA® provided an effective barrier against them for over an hour. This laboratory test proved that SyDERMA® is an effective barrier over an extended period of time for solutions such as water, blood, urine, saliva, 30% concentration of alcohol, 2% concentration of detergent, and 30% hydrogen peroxide. Once SyDERMA® has been applied to intact skin and allowed to completely dry, the intact protective membrane formed by SyDERMA® helps prevent the penetration of aqueous solutions such as these.

A nationally recognized laboratory experienced in the medical, food service, environmental, and governmental arenas conducted a Kinetic/Endpoint Assay test. The protocol of this Kinetic/Endpoint Assay test requires that bacterial growth be monitored and counted evey five minutes for four hours. This test demonstrated that SyDERMA® has superior inhibitory activity over an extended period of time on strands of common bacteria that are found in numerous environmental settings.

A Time Kill Test has been conducted with SyDERMA® against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella typhimurium, and Staphylococcus aureus bacteria. These tests proved that SyDERMA® effectively destroys 99.99% of these bacteria within 30 seconds of contact and is a bactericidal agent.

SyDERMA® has been tested for its ability to generate a zone of inhibition against a series of bacteria including Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pyogenes, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aerugenosa, Acinetobacter anitritus and Candida albicans. These tests, which were conducted on culture concentrations in excess of 9.3 x 109 of the bacteria, were done in accordance with accepted and established testing protocols. The results proved that SyDERMA® provides an effective zone of inhibition against bacterial growth for an extended period of time. The antimicrobial agents utilized in SyDERMA® are contained within the lotion utilizing a proprietary manufacturing method. This ensures that should the product itself becomes accidentally contaminated by bacteria, the bacteria becomes inactivated or inhibited, thereby preventing it from multiplying or mutating.

In ordinary circumstances without the protection provided by SyDERMA®, individuals in some industries, such as food service and health care, could become infected by a wide variety of bacteria strands, including Escherichia coli, Salmonella, Streptococcus pyogenes, Staphylococcus aureus, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. It is important that personnel in these sensitive industries take the proper precautions to guard against bacterial cross infection. The importance of taking this added precaution is discussed in an article in the January-February 1991 issue of the Journal of Hospital Occupational Health. This article entitled "Hand Washing: It's Essential Even When You Use Gloves", states that washing with plain soap will remove only transient organisms from the hands, not kill them and therefore "As Semmelweis recognized, simple hand washing with plain soap is not always enough. Thus, in medical care settings, where patients are at high risk of infections or when exposure to many potential pathogens is likely, a product that contains an antimicrobial ingredient is a better choice."* SyDERMA® contains one of the most commonly used antimicrobial ingredients in use today. Not only is it an effective bactericide, but also it remains active on the skin for any extended period of time preventing bacterial re-growth or cross contamination.

*Larson, Elaine, “Hand Washing: It’s Essential Even When You Use Gloves.” Journal