Safety evaluation of different variants of a topically applied toilet bar soap range using skin irritancy testing methods in the Nigerian population

Abstract

Exposure to soaps can also alter the physiological properties of the skin such as pH, trans-epidermal water loss and sebum levels which are all determinants of skin irritability. Purpose: We aimed to evaluate the safety of different variants of a topically applied toilet soap range using skin irritancy testing methods in the Nigerian population. Five variants of commercially available soap bars were used in this study. Each subject was patch tested using standard methodology for application of patch test, with 5 variants of the proposed products. The pH, trans epidermal water loss (TEWL) and serum levels of the skin were determined before and after wash test. Diffuse plaster erythema was observed in 15.4% participants with 18.5% complaining of itching on the plaster site. All five variants were negative for allergic contact dermatitis after 48 hours and 96 hours post patch test. The soap range ensured that post washing pH of skin was maintained at 6.41 ±0.07 for all participants in the study. Post washing, the sebum concentration on the skin was significantly reduced by 95.01% ± 0.07 (p = 0.018). The different variants of the topically applied soap bar were non – irritant, compatible with human skin and showed no sign of allergic contact dermatitis.

Keywords

• Soap
• Skin Irritancy
• Skin sebum content
• Trans-epidermal water loss
• Safety evaluation

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