Tandem Application of Sodium Lauryl Sulfate and n-Propanol Does Not Lead to Enhancement of Cumulative Skin Irritation

Irritant contact dermatitis has a broad spectrum of clinical features and is a leading cause of occupational disease worldwide. It has been shown previously that a combination of chemically different irritants may cause an additive effect compared to single application of these substances. In this study, tandem application of sodium lauryl sulfate and n-propanol was investigated in 20 human volunteers using non-invasive bioengineering methods, such as measurement of transepidermal water loss and chromametry. N-propanol did not enhance cumulative skin irritation when used with sodium lauryl sulfate, as has been reported for toluene. As n-propanol is the active ingredient in many disinfectants, this is of particular interest regarding occupational skin irritation in health care workers.