Microwave Corneosurfametry and the Short-Duration Dansyl Chloride Extraction Test for Rating Concentrated Irritant Surfactants

BACKGROUND: There are ethical concerns to conduct in vivo tests in the animal and human to provide evidence that cosmetics and other topical products are safe. OBJECTIVE: To compare two methods, namely the short-duration dansyl chloride extraction test and the microwave corneosurfametry bioassay, to test the irritation potential of concentrated surfactant systems. METHODS: Five surfactants and water were tested using the in vivo test and the bioassay. RESULTS: A significant linear correlation was found between data yielded by the two procedures. CONCLUSION: The short-duration dansyl chloride extraction test and the microwave corneosurfametry bioassay provide similar information. The latter has the advantage of being safe.