Corneosurfametry and corneoxenometry

Abstract

Corneosurfametry and corneoxenometry are two related investigative methods allowing safe assessment of some irritation potential of surfactants and other xenobiotics, respectively. The method entails harvesting a sheet of the stratum corneum using the cyanoacrylate skin surface procedure. The neat or diluted test product is applied ex vivo for a given period of time at defined temperatures. The material is then rinsed and stained, and the color is measured using reflectance colorimetry in the L*a*b* system. The more the color is intense, the more the product is at risk of in vivo irritation.