ABSTRACT
Irritation, with or without the involvement of solar radiation, is a relatively common phenomenon. Skin irritation arising directly as a consequence of exposure (deliberate or accidental) to materials is typically experienced as cumulative irritant contact dermatitis. Acute irritation arising from a single contact is less common, and largely comprises of corrosive effects from very aggressive materials. In this chapter, the most advanced in vitro methods for the identifi cation of corrosivity, irritancy, and phototoxicity are reviewed, their validation status documented, and their utility in the completion of safety assessment (regulatory and for occupational/consumer exposure) is considered. Finally, challenges for the future are detailed, particularly in the context of the relevance of existing validated in vitro procedures and their use in the regulatory and industrial framework, for establishing safety use exposures for topically applied materials.
