The effect of population diversity on skin irritation.
The impact of many human variables on the response to skin irritating substances has been studied to varying degrees, including the impact of age, sex, and atopic status. However, the importance of ethnic origin has been more difficult to investigate, leading to a relative paucity of compelling data, either for or against the existence of differences. A primary reason for this lack is that studies on different ethnic groups often have to be undertaken in different locations thus introducing variables, e.g. time, environmental conditions that confound interpretations. In the present work, an attempt has been made to eliminate all variables except ethnicity by conducting a study on 2 distinct populations (Punjabis and Tamils) at the same location on the same day with a single assessor of the skin reactions, using sodium lauryl sulfate as the skin irritant. The skin reactions were assessed visually, and it was demonstrated that the modality of the reactions in these 2 populations had clear differences, but that the dose-response profiles were very similar. Thus, although the irritant response was expressed differently (e.g. erythema was much less evident in the darker Tamil population), the overall outcome was that the populations reacted in an equivalent manner.
Peters
Lisa
L
Safety and Environmental Assurance Centre, Unilever, Colworth Laboratory, Sharnbrook, Bedfordshire, MK44 1LQ, UK.
Marriott
Marie
M
Mukerji
Bhashkar
B
Indra
Pinky
P
Iyer
Janardhana Vaidyanathan
JV
Roy
Adip
A
Rowson
Matt
M
Ahmed
Sharmin
S
Cooper
Karen
K
Basketter
David
D
D000328:Adult; D017449:Dermatitis, Allergic Contact / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D014644:Genetic Variation; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D007509:Irritants / Q000009:adverse effects; D008297:Male; D010328:Patch Tests; D012967:Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate / Q000009:adverse effects; D013501:Surface-Active Agents / Q000009:adverse effects; D044465:White People / Q000235:genetics*
D007509:Irritants; D013501:Surface-Active Agents; D012967:Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate