title: Anti-irritants I: Dose-response in acute irritation.
abstract: The term 'anti-irritant' (AI) was coined in 1965 by Goldemberg to describe a diverse group of topical product ingredients, which were able to reduce the irritation potential of other more irritating ingredients in the same product. 'AIs' are being added to cosmetic formulations in order, allegedly, to benefit tolerability of the products and allow claims such as 'soothing' and 'healing' ingredients. Limited documentation in favour of the efficacy of AIs is published. We studied the dose-related effect of 4 alleged AIs (nifedipine, (-)-alpha-bisabolol, canola oil and glycerol) on experimentally induced acute irritation in healthy volunteers. Each AI was used in 3 concentrations. Acute irritation was induced by occlusive tests with 1% sodium lauryl sulfate and 20% nonanoic acid in N-propanol. The irritant reactions were treated twice daily with AI-containing formulations from the time of removal of the patches. Evaluation of skin irritation and efficacy of treatments were performed daily for 4 days using clinical scoring, evaporimetry (transepidermal water loss), hydration measurement and colourimetry. Only glycerol showed dose-response and effects potentially better than no treatment. There was no significant effect and no difference between the three other AIs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology and Allergy Center, Odense University Hospital, University of Southern Denmark, Denmark. fland@stofanet.dk
authors.forename: Flemming
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Andersen
authors.forename: Kathryn
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hedegaard
authors.forename: Thomas Kongstad
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Petersen
authors.forename: Carsten
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bindslev-Jensen
authors.forename: Ann
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fullerton
authors.forename: Klaus Ejner
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Andersen
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000279:Administration, Cutaneous; D000328:Adult; D002626:Chemistry, Pharmaceutical; D017453:Dermatitis, Irritant / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005227:Fatty Acids; D005229:Fatty Acids, Monounsaturated / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D005990:Glycerol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007509:Irritants; D008297:Male; D000081222:Monocyclic Sesquiterpenes; D009543:Nifedipine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000074262:Rapeseed Oil; D012016:Reference Values; D012717:Sesquiterpenes / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012967:Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate; D013501:Surface-Active Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014870:Water Loss, Insensible / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D005227:Fatty Acids; D005229:Fatty Acids, Monounsaturated; D007509:Irritants; D000081222:Monocyclic Sesquiterpenes; D000074262:Rapeseed Oil; D012717:Sesquiterpenes; D013501:Surface-Active Agents; C004497:bisabolol; D012967:Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate; C008776:pelargonic acid; D009543:Nifedipine; D005990:Glycerol