A Comparative Analysis of 8 Facial Cleansers Using Corneosurfametry Reveals Differentiated Irritation Potential

Facial cleansers can disrupt the stratum corneum and cause irritation. Selecting a cleanser that is both effective and gentle is foundational to a tailored skincare routine, particularly for individuals with sensitive skin. This project assessed the relative mildness of Cetaphil® Gentle Skin Cleanser (GSC; Galderma Laboratories, LP, Fort Worth, TX) vs 7 other commercially available gentle cleansers using corneosurfametry.

Surface skin cells were collected from the volar forearms of 18 volunteer participants using D‑Squame® standard sampling discs. Discs were then incubated for 10 minutes in a 10% aqueous solution of one of the 8 cleansers, 5% sodium lauryl sulfate (positive control), or water (negative control). Samples were stained with toluidine blue–basic fuchsin and measured by chromameter. Colorimetric index of mildness (CIM) least-squares means were compared pairwise versus GSC, and photographs provided qualitative corroboration. A higher CIM indicated a milder cleanser, while a lower CIM indicated a harsher cleanser.

The mean CIM for GSC was 63.87; pairwise comparisons indicated statistically significant differences between GSC and the mean CIM of the 7 comparators, which ranged from 46.95 to 53.32. Photographic tape appearance was concordant with CIM rankings.

GSC was significantly milder than the comparator cleansers as assessed by CIM and photographic analysis of the tape strips. These data suggest that there are differences in irritation potential among commercially available facial cleansers, which may help ensure patients and providers select a sufficiently mild cleanser for those with sensitive skin.