The Blend of Taurine and Aloe Vera Extract Boosts Action Against Skin Irritation: In Vitro and Clinical Evaluations.

Regular usage of cosmetic products and drugs in dermatological vehicles may cause irritant contact dermatitis. For example, aluminum chloride (AlCl₃), the most efficacious antiperspirant salt to treat hyperhidrosis, shows high irritancy potential. To mitigate the irritant contact dermatitis caused by topical application of products containing AlCl₃, we investigated the anti-irritating effects of aloe extract and taurine in vitro and in vivo. In an in vitro experiment, reconstructed human epidermis model, EpiDerm, was tested with AlCl₃ in the presence or absence of taurine and aloe extract. In a human clinical study, 12 adult subjects were tested with two products, a commercial AlCl₃ antiperspirant product and a prototype 12% AlCl₃ formulation containing 0.1% taurine and 0.1% aloe extract. Skin irritation potential in vitro and in vivo was measured by the release of pro-inflammatory cytokine, IL-1α, and chemokine, IL-8. Taurine and aloe extract significantly (p < 0.05) reduced IL-lα and IL-8 production in vitro and in vivo after topical application of formulations containing AlCl₃. The blend of taurine and aloe extract demonstrated boosted anti-irritation benefits on AlCl₃ irritated skin both in vitro and in vivo. These results suggest that the combination of these anti-irritating actives may possibly be effective in mitigating irritant contact dermatitis caused by other dermatological vehicles containing irritating agents, but further research is warranted to assess their effects.