Abstract
Exposure to soaps can also alter the physiological properties of the skin such as pH, trans-epidermal water loss and sebum levels which are all determinants of skin irritability. Purpose: We aimed to evaluate the safety of different variants of a topically applied toilet soap range using skin irritancy testing methods in the Nigerian population. Five variants of commercially available soap bars were used in this study. Each subject was patch tested using standard methodology for application of patch test, with 5 variants of the proposed products. The pH, trans epidermal water loss (TEWL) and serum levels of the skin were determined before and after wash test. Diffuse plaster erythema was observed in 15.4% participants with 18.5% complaining of itching on the plaster site. All five variants were negative for allergic contact dermatitis after 48 hours and 96 hours post patch test. The soap range ensured that post washing pH of skin was maintained at 6.41 ±0.07 for all participants in the study. Post washing, the sebum concentration on the skin was significantly reduced by 95.01% ± 0.07 (p = 0.018). The different variants of the topically applied soap bar were non – irritant, compatible with human skin and showed no sign of allergic contact dermatitis.
Highlights
IntroductionContact dermatitis is an inflammatory skin condition caused by contact with chemicals (exogenous agents) that damage the skin either directly (irritant) or by specific sensitization (allergic)
Contact dermatitis is an inflammatory skin condition caused by contact with chemicals that damage the skin either directly or by specific sensitization
A previous study showed no difference in transepidermal water loss (TEWL) between adult males and females at around 40 years of age [25]. This present study showed that the participants exhibited an average TEWL of 13.92 ± 0.21 g/ Hm2, which is in consonance with previous literature in comparison with Caucasians, Chinese, and African
Summary
Contact dermatitis is an inflammatory skin condition caused by contact with chemicals (exogenous agents) that damage the skin either directly (irritant) or by specific sensitization (allergic). It is difficult clinically to differentiate between irritant contact dermatitis (ICD) and allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) [1]. ICD is a non-specific response of the skin to direct chemical damage, which releases the mediators of inflammation predominantly from the epidermal cells [2]. This may follow a single exposure or multiple exposures to a known irritant [2]. Soaps and cleansers are common causes of skin irritation. Fragrances can be potential irritants and sensitizers in cleansers/soaps. Fragrance mix was the most common sensitizing agent causing cosmetic allergy in a trial done at the dermatology outpatient clinic of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Nigeria [4,5,6,7]
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