Triclosan inhibits histamine-induced inflammation in human skin

Previous studies indicate that triclosan reduces the pain and other symptoms after chemically-induced inflammation in the oral mucosa and skin when sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) is used as an irritant. The aim of the present study was to examine whether triclosan has an effect on the inflammation in human skin caused by intradermal administration of histamine. 9 female volunteers participated in a double-blind study, and skin patch tests were performed in 2 series. In the 1st, the skin was pre-treated for 1 h with triclosan before the histamine was applied. In the 2nd, the histamine reaction was elicited first and triclosan applied subsequently. The effect of triclosan on the weals formed in the skin after histamine application was measured. It was found that triclosan reduced the size of the weals markedly when triclosan was applied after the weals were formed, and that pre-treatment of the skin had only a slight effect. It is assumed that triclosan has an effect on the cascade reactions of inflammation elicited by histamine. 2 other phenols tested in the same study had similar effects.