Shielded corneosurfametry and corneoxenometry: novel bioassays for the assessment of skin barrier products.
OBJECTIVE
One of the most frequent occupational and environmental insults to the skin is linked to chronic exposure to weak irritants. There is a need for new predictive tests assessing the efficacy of barrier creams.


METHODS
Shielded variants of corneosurfametry and corneoxenometry are introduced as novel ex vivo bioassays applicable for comparing protection to surfactants and organic solvents.


RESULTS
Both bioassays showed good reproducibility for each offending agent and skin-protective products. Significant differences in efficacy were indicated between the presumptive barrier products.


CONCLUSIONS
Shielded corneosurfametry and corneoxenometry may be convenient bioassays to compare the protection afforded by topical products against specific offending compounds to the skin. They avoid animal testing and toxicological hazards in human testing. In addition, they are cheap, rapid and reproducible.
Belgian SSTC Research Center 5596, University Medical Center, Liège, Belgium.
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Goffin
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Piérard-Franchimont
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Piérard
D001681:Biological Assay; D003124:Colorimetry; D017453:Dermatitis, Irritant / Q000209:etiology; D003879:Dermatologic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D004341:Drug Evaluation; D006801:Humans; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012867:Skin / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D012882:Skin Tests / Q000379:methods*; D012967:Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D013501:Surface-Active Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D015262:Xenobiotics / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects
D003879:Dermatologic Agents; D013501:Surface-Active Agents; D015262:Xenobiotics; D012967:Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate