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Topical toxicity of various concentrations of DMSO recorded with impedance measurements and water vapour loss measurements Recording of skin's adaptation to repeated DMSO irritation
Author(s) -
Malten K. E.,
Arend J.
Publication year - 1978
Publication title -
contact dermatitis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.524
H-Index - 96
eISSN - 1600-0536
pISSN - 0105-1873
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0536.1978.tb03740.x
Subject(s) - irritation , toxicity , chemistry , volunteer , skin irritation , forearm , dry skin , toxicology , zoology , anesthesia , medicine , surgery , dermatology , immunology , organic chemistry , agronomy , biology
The effects of topical applications on the living human forearm skin of 3 ml of DMSO 0.09 % JaCI in water solutions of various concentrations during a variety of exposure times were evaluated clinically, and with water vapour loss and impedance measurements. The water vapour loss measurement appeared not to be a sensitive parameter, since it showed only deviations from normal values if there were also clinical signs of irritation, e.g. if the skin is exposed during 15 min to a DMSO solution of 90 % or higher. Impeddance showed some increase after 15‐min exposures to 30 % DMSO. In the range of 60 to 99.9 % DMSO, decreases of impedance were found increasing progressively with strength of solution and duration of exposure. Only the longer exposures (3 h to 60 % DMSO) or the higher concentrations (90 % DMSO and over during 15‐min exposure) produced clinical signs. Daily repeated short‐lasting (5–10 min) exposures to carefully chosen concentrations of DMSO (60, 73 and 86 %revealed that the skin of the volunteer was almost able to resist the lowest concentration. If exposed for 10 min the skin had some difficulty in recovering from the irritating influence of exposures to 60 or 73 % DMSO which took place the preceding day: there is some tendency to a progressive lowering of resistance. With repeated 5‐min exposures to 86 % DMSO, this tendency to progressive lowering of resistance is more evident although there is a clear but somewhat incomplete recovery 24 h after each preceding exposure. If the skin is exposed daily to 86 % DMSO for 10 min. the regenerative capacity after the 12th exposure is exhausted. However, after the 17th exposure, extra regenerative forces seem to be mobilized restricting progressively the consequences of every exposure to follow. If the skin is no longer exposed (day 21), recovery is speedier and more complete than that seen after the 5‐min exposures to the same strength. We propose calling this ‘adaptation’ or ‘hardening’.