Perfluoropolyethers in the Prevention of Irritant Contact Dermatitis

• Published in: Dermatology (Basel) Vol. 197; no. 2; pp. 141 - 145
• Main Authors: Elsner, P., Wigger-Alberti, W., Pantini, G.
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: Basel, Switzerland Karger 01.01.1998; S. Karger AG
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Caustics - adverse effects; Clinical and Laboratory Investigations; Dermatitis, Irritant - etiology; Dermatitis, Irritant - prevention & control; Dermatology; Emulsions; Erythema - prevention & control; Ethers - administration & dosage; Ethers - therapeutic use; Female; Fluorocarbons - administration & dosage; Fluorocarbons - therapeutic use; Humans; Irritants - adverse effects; Lactic Acid - adverse effects; Male; Medical sciences; Skin - drug effects; Skin - pathology; Skin - physiopathology; Skin involvement in other diseases. Miscellaneous. General aspects; Skin Pigmentation - drug effects; Skin Pigmentation - physiology; Skin Tests; Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate - adverse effects; Sodium Hydroxide - adverse effects; Surface-Active Agents - adverse effects; Toluene - adverse effects; Water Loss, Insensible - drug effects; Water Loss, Insensible - physiology; Repetitive irritation test; Protective cream; Perfluoropolyethers; Human; Prevention; Skin disease; Contact dermatitis; Organic perhalocompound; Oil water emulsion; Fluorine containing polymer; Ether polymer; Experimental study; Irritation
• ISSN: 1018-8665; 1421-9832
• DOI: 10.1159/000017986

Background: Perfluoropolyethers (PFPEs) are non-reactive perfluorinated (no hydrogen atoms) liquid polymers that showed promise as ingredients of protective preparations in occupational dermatology. Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate if oil-in-water (o/w) emulsions containing 0.5, 1.0, 2.0 and 4.0% PFPEs (molecular weight 6,250 D) prevent epidermal barrier disruption induced by a repetitive irritation test (RIT). Methods: PFPE-containing o/w emulsions and the emulsion base alone were evaluated against a set of 4 irritants [10% sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS), 0.5% sodium hydroxide (NaOH), 15% lactic acid (LA), and undiluted toluene (TOL)] in the RIT. Ten subjects were tested on the paravertebral skin of the mid-back. Irritation was assessed by visual scoring, transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and colorimetry. Results: Both the emulsion base and all PFPE-containing preparations significantly suppressed irritation by SLS and NaOH. Against LA and TOL, only the 4% PFPE-containing preparation was significant as assessed by TEWL. Conclusion: A 4% PFPE-containing o/w emulsion significantly inhibits irritation due to a wide spectrum of hydrophilic and lipophilic irritants. o/w emulsions with lower concentrations of PFPE are also effective against SLS and NaOH, but this is also true for the cream base alone. Therefore, further studies are necessary to evaluate if a minimum of 4% PFPE in the base provides additional benefit.