title: Topical antioxidants protect the skin from chemical-induced irritation in the repetitive washing test: a placebo-controlled, double-blind study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There is increasing evidence that reactive oxygen species play an important role in the development of both irritant and allergic contact dermatitis.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess the potential of topical antioxidants to prevent the development of experimentally induced irritant contact dermatitis.
  
  
  METHODS
  We evaluated the effect of a cream containing a combination of antioxidants on sodium lauryl sulfate-induced irritant contact dermatitis in the repetitive washing test. As readout parameters for skin barrier function and cutaneous inflammation stratum corneum hydration, cutaneous blood flow and transepidermal water loss were assessed in 25 volunteers with bioengineering methods.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In comparison with the cream base and a frequently used barrier cream, the antioxidant cream had high radical scavenging activity and effectively protected the skin from chemical-induced irritation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The superiority of the cream with antioxidants to the cream base suggests that reactive oxygen species, at least in part, play a role in the development of irritant contact dermatitis.
authors.affiliation: Competence Centre Skintegral, Department of Dermatology, University Medical Centre Freiburg, Hauptstrasse 7, D-79104 Freiburg, Germany. christoph.schempp@uniklinik-freiburg.de
authors.forename: Christoph M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Schempp
authors.forename: Martina C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Meinke
authors.forename: Jürgen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lademann
authors.forename: Yvonne
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ferrari
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Brecht
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Gehring
mesh_terms: D000975:Antioxidants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017453:Dermatitis, Irritant / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D006229:Hand Dermatoses / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D031951:Resedaceae; D063465:Skin Cream / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012967:Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate / Q000494:pharmacology; D024505:Tocopherols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014451:Ubiquinone / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D010936:Plant Extracts; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D014451:Ubiquinone; D012967:Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate; D024505:Tocopherols