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Prediction of Skin Irritation by Noninvasive Bioengineering Methods

  • Ron A. TupkerEmail author
Living reference work entry
First Online:

Abstract

The ultimate goal of skin irritancy testing is to understand and predict chronic irritant contact dermatitis. Visual scoring constitutes the basis of evaluating skin irritancy testing.

By using noninvasive bioengineering methods, various aspects of skin irritation and inflammation can be quantified, both in subclinically and clinically involved skin.

The result of irritancy testing may depend upon the type of testing model in which compounds are brought into contact with the skin (onetime occlusive patch test, repeated occlusive test, or repeated open tests). The model of choice depends on the presumed circumstances under which these compounds are met with in daily life.

Great interindividual variations in susceptibility to irritants are recognized among healthy nonatopic subjects. The role of barrier function, adaptation capacity, and other factors that may determine susceptibility is discussed.

Atopic dermatitis is unique in its high reactivity. New findings point toward the role of filaggrins in a subgroup of atopic dermatitis patients. Furthermore, characteristic stratum corneum lipid patterns have been identified.

Prospective studies have identified history of hand dermatitis and atopic dermatitis as important personal risk factors for the development of hand dermatitis in high-risk occupations.

Keywords

Atopic dermatitis Corneometer Laser Doppler flowmetry Natural moisturizing factor (NMF) Profilaggrin Soap effect Spectrophotometry T-helper-2 polarization Visual scoring 
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Authors and Affiliations

  1. 1.Department of DermatologySt Antonius HospitalNieuwegeinThe Netherlands

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