Background: Glove occlusion might enhance skin sensitivity to a subsequent detergent challenge (occlusion effect). Thus, some skin protection creams (PC) claim to protect against this effect of occlusion, and are recommended to be used before wearing liquid-proof gloves.
Objectives: To evaluate the effect of PC applied prior to glove occlusion on the 'occlusion effect'-refers to increased susceptibility of the skin to a model detergent.
Methods: One hundred and eleven volunteers were enrolled in a single-blind, randomized study. Seven PCs were applied before glove occlusion over 7 days (D1-D7). After sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS) challenge, we compared the irritation between the areas treated with PC and occlusion alone. Clinical scoring and bioengineering methods (capacitance, transepidermal water loss [TEWL], and colourimetry [erythema]) were used to quantify the irritant reactions.
Results: After 1 week of occlusion and PC application, we did not observe significant changes in TEWL, nor in erythema, whereas skin hydration raised in three cream-treated areas. On day 10, after a challenge with SLS, some products significantly aggravated the skin irritation as compared to occlusion alone.
Conclusions: The 'occlusion effect'-shown as higher skin susceptibility to a model detergent-was not mitigated by PCs when applied prior to glove occlusion. On the contrary, some PCs might have negative effects on skin barrier function and augment such sensitivity.
Keywords: barrier disturbance; glove occlusion; irritant contact dermatitis; irritation; non-invasive measuring methods; occupational contact dermatitis; skin barrier disturbance; skin protective cream; wet work.
© 2023 The Authors. Contact Dermatitis published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.