Cumulative irritation patch test of sanitary pads on sensitive skin.

Background: Tools are needed to assess the effects of various products on sensitive skin.

Aim: To investigate the cutaneous compatibility of various sanitary pads in people with self-declared sensitive skin.

Patients/methods: Eight subjects, who considered their skin to be sensitive and who reported adverse skin responses to everyday products or clothing, were patch tested on the arm with two, low-irritancy sanitary pads for four consecutive 24-hour periods. Test products differed only in their surface covering. Sodium lauryl sulfate solution (0.1% w/v) and physiological saline served as standard irritant and nonirritant controls, respectively. Skin irritation (erythema) was graded after each 24-hour period.

Results: No significant difference in skin erythema scores was observed between groups (scores on day 4: 1.06 +/- 0.11 vs. 1.25 +/- 0.13, on a five-point scale, P < 0.05). The temporal development of cumulative irritation associated with the pads was comparable to that observed with the nonirritant control (a plateau in maximal group scores) and distinct from that of the irritant control (continuously rising scores).

Conclusion: Sanitary pads under investigation elicited negligible cumulative irritation in a four-day patch test on subjects with self-declared sensitive skin. The temporal pattern of cumulative response was consistent with the inherently low irritation potential of the products.