ABSTRACT
Irritant contact dermatitis (ICD), a condition with multifactorial causes, results from acute and chronic exposure to chemicals found in cosmetics, personal care products, drugs, and during occupational exposure [1]. Prognosis for chronic ICD may be poor; the disease results in lost work and causes signifi cant distress. Thus, we sought to identify substances with anti-irritant potential in hopes of improving our understanding and better serving future patients. The concept of anti-irritants is prevalent in Europe and Asia; however, these substances are often considered to be part of a greater marketing ploy rather than a truly scientifi c approach to reducing ICD. Our overview attempts to add the available science to this concept. Anti-irritants and their potential clinical uses from human, animal, and in vitro studies are summarized in Tables 83.1 through 83.3.
