Lenor Fabric Conditioner: Skin benefits

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Forearm application (with visual and instrumental grading) (Hermanns, et al., 2001)
This type of test involves exposure to the skin of volunteers who have sensitive skin according to the independent assessment of a dermatologist. The exposure is under conditions that are exaggerated over and above the types of exposures that would be expected to occur with normal product use.
The delicate skin of the forearm of approximately 30 volunteer panelists is pretreated with a dilute solution of sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS) to cause a slight amount of irritation. SLS is a material surfactant known to cause irritation, and has been used for decades as an irritant control in a variety of test systems, including human test model systems. After pretreatment with SLS, the forearm is treated repeatedly over the course of 12 days by gently rubbing with cotton fabric that had been washed in either detergent alone, or detergent and Lenor.
Results: Neither fabric sample (i.e., fabric washed in detergent alone or detergent and Lenor) had any deleterious effect on previously irritated skin. In fact, fabric washed in detergent and Lenor had a mild beneficial effect, and, for some measurements, the skin exposed to the detergent plus Lenor-treated fabric was in better condition than skin exposed to fabric treated with detergent alone.
Fabric Wear Test (Infants) (Peirard, et al. 1994)
Results: Neither fabric sample (i.e., fabric washed in detergent alone or detergent and Lenor) had any adverse effects on infant skin. A slight beneficial effect was observed on some measurements with the Lenor-treated fabrics when compared to the fabrics washed in detergent alone.
References:
  • Hermanns, J. F., V. Goffin, J. E. Arrese, C. Rodriguez, and G. E. Peirard. 2001. Beneficial effects of softened fabrics on atopic skin. Dermatology, 202(2):167-170.
  • Pierard, G. E., J. E. Arrese, C. Rodriguez, and P. A. Deskaleros. 1994. Effects of softened and unsoftened fabrics on sensitive skin. Contact Dermatitis, 30(5):286-291.
  • Pierard, G. E., J. E. Arrese, A. Dowlati, P. A. Deskaleros, and C. Rodriguez. 1994a. Effects of softened and unsoftened fabric on infant skin. Int. J. Dermatology, 33(2):138-141.