Cumulative effect of surfactants on cutaneous horny layers: lysosome labilizing action

In order to analyze the role of various surfactants in the abnormal desquamation process of the epidermis in keratodermia type hand dermatitis, the lysosome labilizing effect of surfactants has been investigated by measuring the release of enzymes from lysosomes in vitro using spectrophotometric and gel chromatographic techniques. It has been found that the labilizing effect of surfactants decreases in the order of cationic, anionic, and nonionic surfactants and varies with its alkyl chain length. The relationship of the labilization and skin roughness inducing effect is also discussed.