Effects of various concentrations of glycolic acid at the corneoxenometry and collaxenometry bioassays.
BACKGROUND
Glycolic acid is an alpha-hydroxy acid used as a chemical peeling for more than a quarter century. The primary tissue target is the stratum corneum.


OBJECTIVE
This study aims to assess the effects of various concentrations of glycolic acid on the stratum corneum and collagen fibers using two selected bioassays.


METHODS
Corneoxenometry was performed to test the effects on human stratum corneum. Collaxenometry was similarly designed to quantify the effect on sheets of collagen fibers. Different glycolic acid concentrations ranging from 5% to 70% in alcohol were tested, respectively, for 3- and 10-min exposure times.


RESULTS
Both bioassays showed consistent reactivities with a dose-effect relationship when using a 3-min exposure time. By contrast, the tests appeared unreliable or uninformative for the 10-min exposure time.


CONCLUSIONS
Corneoxenometry and collaxenometry appear useful for in vitro testing peeling agents during short exposure times.
Xhauflaire-Uhoda
Emmanuelle
E
Department of Dermatopathology, CHU Sart Tilman, Liège, Belgium.
Piérard-Franchimont
Claudine
C
Piérard
Gérald E
GE
D000279:Administration, Cutaneous; D001681:Biological Assay; D002615:Chemexfoliation / Q000379:methods*; D003094:Collagen / Q000187:drug effects*; D004817:Epidermis / Q000187:drug effects*; D006016:Glycolates / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D007641:Keratolytic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology*
D006016:Glycolates; D007641:Keratolytic Agents; C031149:glycolic acid; D003094:Collagen