In cosmetic industry, evaluation of irritancy potential
to human skin of any chemicals or formulations is a
necessity. This must be done by means of in vivo and in
vitro tests to determine the risk of irritation due to the
contact between these compounds and human skin. The
most commonly used test is the rabbit skin irritation test described in the OECD test guideline 404 and in the
European Chemicals Bureau Annex V part B.4
(http://ecb.jrc.it/testing-methods/) which was initially
described by Draize et al (1944).3
In this animal test, the
test substances, either raw materials or finished
formulated products, are to apply on the rabbit’s shaved
skin. A score of skin reactions is based on physiological
observations on the animals.