title: Antiirritant properties of polyols and amino acids.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Antiirritants are used in cosmetic products to prevent or to treat skin irritations that arise during daily life. Data were published earlier on the efficacy of the best-known humectant, glycerol, in reducing irritation.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the present study was to examine the effects of different polyols (including glycerol, xylitol, and mannitol) and the amino acids taurine and glycine on sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS)-induced skin irritation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Healthy adult volunteers were patch-tested with 0.1% SLS in the presence or absence of one or another polyol or amino acid. Skin reactions were evaluated via measurements of transepidermal water loss (TEWL).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Glycerol and xylitol significantly suppressed the SLS-induced increase in TEWL, whereas mannitol had no effect on the SLS-induced skin irritation. Taurine also inhibited the SLS-induced increase in TEWL, but glycine was not effective in reducing the SLS-induced irritative response.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Similar to the action of the well-known antiirritant glycerol, SLS-induced skin irritation is suppressed by xylitol and taurine. These results suggest that these agents might also be effective in preventing irritative dermatitis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology and Allergology, University of Szeged, Hungary.
authors.forename: Csilla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Korponyai
authors.forename: Réka K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Kovács
authors.forename: Gábor
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Erös
authors.forename: Shabtay
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dikstein
authors.forename: Lajos
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kemény
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D017453:Dermatitis, Irritant / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003879:Dermatologic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D005990:Glycerol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005998:Glycine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008353:Mannitol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010328:Patch Tests; D012867:Skin / Q000187:drug effects; D012967:Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate; D013501:Surface-Active Agents; D013654:Taurine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014870:Water Loss, Insensible / Q000187:drug effects; D014993:Xylitol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D003879:Dermatologic Agents; D013501:Surface-Active Agents; D013654:Taurine; D012967:Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate; D008353:Mannitol; D005990:Glycerol; D005998:Glycine; D014993:Xylitol