The use of different concentrations of betaine as a reducing irritation agent in soaps monitored visually and non-invasively.
OBJECTIVE
Products containing detergents can damage the skin and give rise to irritant contact dermatitis. Therefore, attempts have been made to find less irritating detergents as well as substances decreasing undesired side-effects of detergents, and a novel approach is offered by betaine. The aim of the study has been to determine the irritating properties of some liquid soaps for personal hygiene and to map the effect of different concentrations of betaine using electrical impedance, trans-epidermal water loss and visual inspection.


METHODS
Twenty-eight healthy subjects were patch tested with different commercial soaps with and without betaine and sodium lauryl sulphate on both volar forearms for 24 h. A site with distilled water and an unoccluded area were used as references. Responses of the skin reactions were evaluated by visual inspection and by measuring trans-epidermal water loss and electrical impedance before application and 24 h after removal of the chambers.


CONCLUSIONS
Significant skin reactions were found for all soaps tested but the soaps containing betaine were the least irritating. However, the skin irritation did not decrease with increasing concentrations of betaine in the tested range. On the whole the differences between the products were not large. The non-invasive methods used were more sensitive than visual assessment for evaluation of invisible or barely visible skin responses.
Nicander
Ingrid
I
Department of Dermatology I 43, Huddinge University Hospital, SE-14186 Huddinge, Sweden. ingrid.nicander@cob.ki.se
Aberg
Peter
P
Ollmar
Stig
S
D000328:Adult; D001622:Betaine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D017097:Electric Impedance; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007509:Irritants / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D009994:Osmolar Concentration; D012867:Skin / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012882:Skin Tests; D012915:Soaps / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D012967:Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D013501:Surface-Active Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D014870:Water Loss, Insensible / Q000187:drug effects
D007509:Irritants; D012915:Soaps; D013501:Surface-Active Agents; D012967:Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate; D001622:Betaine