Comparison between 2 test models in evaluating the effect of a moisturizeron irritated human skin

The purpose of the present study was to compare 2 experimental models of mo isturizer efficacy on the recovery of irritated skin on the hands and the v olar forearms. 12 healthy volunteers had their hands immersed in sodium lau ryl sulfate (SLS) 10 min 2x daily for 2 days, and at the same time the volu nteers had patch tests with SLS (0.125%, 0.25% and 0.5%) applied on their f orearms for 24 h. After irritation of the skin, the volunteers had a moistu rizer applied on one arm/hand 3x daily for the following 9 days. The other arm/hand served as untreated control. Evaluation was done on days (D) 1, 3, 5, 8 and 12 by transepidermal water loss, electrical capacitance, laser Do ppler flowmetry and DermaSpectrometry. Both models were found useful, and t he moisturizer was found to accelerate regeneration of the skin barrier fun ction in both the hands (D8, p<0.05) and the volar forearms (0.5% SLS, D5 a nd D8, p<0.01). When the forearm model is used in the present set-up, a rel atively high concentration of SLS (>0.25%) should be used and evaluation me asurements are best performed on D5-D8. The forearm model proved reliable a nd easy to handle and we suggest that this model is used in future studies on moisturizer evaluation.