Abstract
Background and aims
Ethanol- or 1-propanol-containing hand disinfectants are widely used as surgical hand antisepsis. The primary objective of this study was to investigate transdermal absorption of ethanol and 1-propanol from combination of 45% ethanol and 18% 1-propanol with skin protecting ingredients (Softa-Man®) within 1 h after application in comparison to the absorption of these alcohols from the product in the absence of the cosmetic additives. The secondary objective was to evaluate the dermal tolerability.
Materials and methods
Following the double-blind, randomized cross-over design for this clinical trial, 20 ml of two different alcohol-containing disinfectants was applied with a 200-cm2 gauze swab on a skin area, identical in size and location, of 14 healthy volunteers for 10 min to investigate the absorption rate of ethanol and 1-propanol. Local dermal tolerability was evaluated using a four-point erythema scale.
Results
No clinically relevant dermal absorption, with respect to ethanol and 1-propanol, could be observed within 1 h after application. Disinfectant-related mild local skin erythema was observed in three cases.
Conclusion
The use of the tested formulations containing ethanol and 1-propanol can be considered as safe. The tested formulation containing skin protecting additives (Softa-Man®) does not result in more alcoholic absorption than the formulation without protective additives.
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Reinhold Andreas Lang and Dianne Egli-Gany have contributed equally to this work.
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Lang, R.A., Egli-Gany, D., Brill, F.H.H. et al. Transdermal absorption of ethanol- and 1-propanol-containing hand disinfectants. Langenbecks Arch Surg 396, 1055–1060 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00423-010-0720-4
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00423-010-0720-4