Dermal and Ocular Corrosion Testing

Dermal Corrosion

Dermal corrosion is the production of irreversible scarring usually as a result of corrosive tissue damage following the application of a substance.

Dermal corrosion results from skin penetration of a chemical or ingredient causing death to the cells beneath the skin surface. Dermal corrosion differs from dermal irritation in that corrosion of the skin is not reversible within 21 days following exposure as is skin irritation. This is likely due to the fact that corrosion is considered to be a more physical affect to the skin than the biologically mediated affect of skin irritation.

Since the skin is often exposed to cosmetic products, the potential for a particular product or ingredient to cause skin corrosion should be evaluated as part of your overall safety testing regimen. The dermal corrosion test system determines the corrosive potential of a substance toward human skin using 3 dimensional skin cell models in place of animals. The is a simple test which is fast, reliable and may be used for solids, liquids and emulsions.

Ocular Corrosion

Ocular corrosion is serious eye damage, often including some degree of vision impairment, caused by a chemical or ingredient that is not fully reversible within 21 days of exposure to the substance.

Eye exposure to cosmetic products and their ingredients can occur through the use of products intended to be used in or around the eye area, such as mascara and eye creams, or from accidental exposure from products such as shampoos or lotions.

The evaluation of cosmetic and personal care products to cause ocular corrosion is essential to ensure the safety of consumers. This ocular corrosion assay is a simple and fast in vitro method using 3-dimensional human corneal epithelial models that will assess the potential of your product to cause corrisivity to the eyes and help you meet your safety testing needs.