Science Fair Projects Involving Dermatology

Bacteria and Sweat

• You will need some willing volunteers for this experiment.Jupiterimages/Creatas/Getty Images
  
  Determine if by wearing socks, the level of sweat is reduced on your feet. Begin by writing your hypothesis. Gather a group of five people together and have them wear sneakers with a sock on one foot only. The test subjects should wear the sneakers for about three hours and perform vigorous activity during this time. This experiment requires 10 petri dishes prepared with agar. Take a swab of the inside of each shoe, being sure to mark the petri dishes "sock" and "no sock." Place the petri dishes in a cool place and measure the bacterial growth after five days. Look at whether the results match your hypothesis.
  
  

Sunscreen Effectiveness

• Is it worth spending more on expensive sunscreens?Rayes/Photodisc/Getty Images
  
  Examine whether sunscreen lotions with a higher Sun Protection Factor (SPF) are more effective. Place a wooden box outside in direct sunlight and set a UV meter inside it. You will need 16 sheets of clean glass for this experiment. Select five brands of sunscreen with SPF 15, five brands with SPF 30 and five with SPF 50. Label the sunscreen within each group A to E. Place the first piece of glass, labeled "none," over the box and measure the UV reading. This is the control group. Now spread a thin layer of each sunscreen on a piece of glass and repeat the process 15 times, recording your results.
  
  

Foot Problems

• Are foot problems gender-specific?Jupiterimages/Comstock/Getty Images
  
  Study the question of whether men or women have more foot problems. Begin by researching common foot complaints and make a list, including blisters, corns, ingrown toenails, bunions and toenail fungus. Ask 100 men and 100 women to fill in the form. Divide your results into men and women. Calculate the percentages of each foot problem for the men and women. Display your findings in a chart or graph.
  
  

Sunscreen Soap

• The sun emits potentially harmful UV rays.Jupiterimages/Goodshoot/Getty Images
  
  Tackle the question of whether sunscreen soap is effective in blocking UV rays. You will need a box and UV meter for this experiment, along with five sheets of glass. Label five containers, "0%," "2%," "4%," "6%" and "8%." Pour 100ml of rubbing alcohol and 50mg of glycerin into each container. Add 1 gram of octyl salicylate to the jar labeled 2 percent, 2 grams to the jar labeled 4 percent, 3 grams to the 6 percent jar and 4 grams to the 8 percent jar. Spread the first solution onto a piece of glass and allow it to dry before placing the glass over the box and measuring the UV reading. Repeat with the other solutions and record your results.