Irritant effects of a detergent in wash and chamber tests

Abstract

Irritant properties of detergents can be tested by using patch and chamber tests and various kinds of use tests. The aim of the present study was to compare the results of use and 12 mm Finn Chamber tests. Study subjects (10 atopic and 11 non-atopic medical students) washed the outer aspect of 1 upper arm with liquid detergent for 1 minute 2 x daily for 1 week. 48-h chamber test with 5 concentrations of the same detergent in water were concurrently applied to upper back skin. Transepidermal water loss (TEWL), electrical capacitance and skin blood flow were measured to quantify reactions on days 0, 2, 5 and 7. Irritant contact dermatitis developed equally in atopics and non-atopics in the wash test, whereas in the chamber test with a 10% aq. solution of the detergent, increase in TEWL was significantly higher in atopics than in non-atopics. The chamber test results thus predicted poorly the result of the wash test. This might indicate that the wash test and the chamber test measure different aspects of skin barrier function.

Sensitive skin: mechanisms and diagnosis

“…In the washing test [45], subjects are asked to wash their face with a specific soap or detergent. After washing, individual sensation for tightness, burning, itching and stinging, is evaluated using a point scale previously determined.…”

Is atopic dermatitis a predisposing factor for experimental acute irritant contact dermatitis?

“…Most authors utilized only patch testing; yet, Hannuksela et al (5,8) found significant differences in the results after patch testing and open (non-occluded) application. They documented equal irritancy in atopics and controls in a detergent use test, whereas in a chamber test with 10% aqueous detergent, TEWL increase was significantly higher in atopics than controls.…”

“…Epidemiologic data (1,2) and several controlled experiments (5)(6)(7)(8)(9)(10)(11)(12)(13)(14)22) suggest they may be more prone to acute irritation than a normal population. For this reason, atopic patients, on the threshold of their choice of occupation, are sometimes advised to avoid industries with an increased risk of irritant contact dermatitis (3).…”

“…For this reason, atopic patients, on the threshold of their choice of occupation, are sometimes advised to avoid industries with an increased risk of irritant contact dermatitis (3). We review the controlled experiments (5)(6)(7)(8)(9)(10)(11)(12)(13)(14)22) to ascertain their integrity as relates to this assumption. We searched Medline (1975Medline ( -1997, Contact Dermatitis (1975Dermatitis ( -1997 and refs.…”

“…Hannuksela & Hannuksela data (8) suggested that different methods of application of a detergent may produce dichotomous results; statistical differences in TEWL were seen between atopics and controls when applied in a plastic chamber, but not in an open (non-occluded) application.…”