Self-perceived sensory responses to soap and synthetic detergent bars correlate with clinical signs of irritation

• Published in: Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology Vol. 32; no. 2; pp. 205 - 211
• Main Authors: Simion, F.Anthony, Rhein, Linda D, Morrison, Boyce M, Scala, Diana D, Salko, Diane M, Kligman, Albert M, Grove, Gary L
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Mosby, Inc 01.02.1995; Elsevier
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Color; Dermatitis, Irritant - etiology; Dermatitis, Irritant - pathology; Dermatitis, Irritant - psychology; Desiccation; Detergents - adverse effects; Diseases of the skin. Cosmetics; Erythema - chemically induced; Erythema - pathology; Erythema - psychology; Female; Forearm; Humans; Medical sciences; Perception - physiology; Pruritus - chemically induced; Pruritus - pathology; Pruritus - psychology; Psychometrics; Radiotherapy. Instrumental treatment. Physiotherapy. Reeducation. Rehabilitation, orthophony, crenotherapy. Diet therapy and various other treatments (general aspects); Reproducibility of Results; Self-Assessment; Sensation - physiology; Skin - drug effects; Skin - pathology; Skin Diseases - chemically induced; Skin Diseases - pathology; Skin Diseases - psychology; Soaps - adverse effects; Water Loss, Insensible - drug effects; Human; Detergent; Questionnaire; Toxicity; Cleaning materials; Sensorial perception; Exploration; Skin; Soap; Irritation
• ISSN: 0190-9622; 1097-6787
• DOI: 10.1016/0190-9622(95)90127-2

Background: Epidemiologic studies indicate that after using soaps and other personal care products, many consumers experience irritation. In 50% of the cases the feelings of skin dryness, itching, and stinging occur in the absence of visible signs of irritation. Objective: We sought to determine the relation between self-perceived sensory responses of panelists to cleansing products and clinical signs of irritation. Methods: A combination of exaggerated arm-washing methods was designed to induce clinical signs of irritation with psychometric techniques developed to quantify sensations. Results: Two studies demonstrated that panelists could reproducibly differentiate between products on the basis of the sensations they felt and that there was a significant correlation (frequently r > 0.80) between these and the observable signs. In the case of skin dryness panelists differentiated products several washing cycles before observable differences were detected. Conclusion: Sensory evaluations of irritation yield additional information on soap and detergent irritancy beyond clinical observations and expand understanding of the irritation process.