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NIOSH Home > Safety and Health Topics >Skin Exposures and Effects >Occupational & Environmental Exposures of Skin to Chemicals- 2005> Abstracts

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Abstract for Poster 5

 

 

Using Skin Models to assess the effects of a pre-work cream on skin barrier function

A. zur Mühlen1, A. Klotz*1, S. Weimanns2, M. Veeger1, B. Thörner1, B. Diener2, M. Hermann2
1Degussa, Stoko Skin Care, Krefeld, Germany
2Degussa, Services, Krefeld, Germany

Background

Frequent contact with lower–level toxicity irritants may provoke skin disease as being one of the most common causes of occupational illnesses. Based on occupational skin protection programs, pre-work formulations are applied before exposure to irritants and thus their main aim is to maintain skin barrier function.

The aim of this study was to elucidate the barrier-supporting mechanism of a pre-work emulsion by using a 3D-skin model.

Method

The pre-work emulsion was applied onto 3D-skin models with and without irritation by Sodium Lauryl Sulphate (SLS). Biochemical processes were monitored by cell viability (LDH release), inflammation response (IL-1a) and skin barrier function (Skin Lipid Content).

Results

The results show, that skin models react similarly to SLS compared to human skin and are therefore suitable to study skin protection mechanism. The emulsion increased the content of skin lipids, without inducing irritation or cell death. It is likely that the superior protective effect of the multiple emulsions (zur Mühlen et.al. 2004) is based on the increased amount of skin barrier lipids.

Conclusions

These results indicate that this model is an important instrument to demonstrate effectiveness of pre-work products for occupational health. Compared to common efficacy tests this new 3D-skin model test offers the advantage of elucidating the biochemical mechanism of a pre-work cream.

 

Content last modified: 15 May 2005

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