An irritant is a chemical, which is not corrosive, but which causes a reversible inflammatory effect by chemical action at the site of contact. A substance will be recognized as a skin irritant if induce a local inflammation on immediate, prolonged, or repeated contact with normal living tissue.

In general terms, an irritant is any substance that is able of inducing cell damage if there is contact for enough time and in enough concentrations.

- In some cases damage is observed only after repeated and prolonged exposure.

- People who is in continual contact with excessive amounts of cleaning agents and water -- hairdressers, food service workers, bartenders, health care personnel, and dishwashers -- may experience extreme alterations in the nature and health of their skin. The situation will be worse if they don't use to apply a skin moisturizer after this contact.

Water is also an irritant, but its effect is weak.

- Repeated water exposure produces the loss of the water-based natural moisturizing factors and some of the defensive lipids paradoxically producing TEWL and skin dryness.

- Persistent hydration of the skin from exposure to water results in:

-- Allergic and irritant contact dermatitis due to the penetration of foreign substances and

-- Changes in the normal ecological environment in/on the skin, which can support the overgrowth of pathological organisms on the skin.

Soaps and cleansers are counted as mild irritants.

- These agents are beneficial surfactants that remove skin oils, bacteria, perspiration, exogenous dirt and crusts (discarded skin cells).

- Constant and prolonged exposure to these agents results in disorganization of the lipid lamellae layers, denatured skin proteins, loss of natural moisturizing factors, removal of the protective intercellular lipids and decreased adhesion between cells.

- Warmer water temperature can boost the irritant capacity of skin cleansers, as absorption will be higher. With hot water, the amount of lost protective lipids increases.

- The end result of prolonged use of water and cleansing agents is alteration of the water-holding capacity of the skin and an increased TEWL. Scaly, dry skin that is less pliable and damaged is the physical result. Application of a skin moisturizing product will help to keep your skin hydrated.

There are also endogenous factors that make one more susceptible to damaged skin by external factors.

- These factors include suffering active skin disease like eczema, inherited dry skin conditions (ichthyosis), a previous history of skin diseases (childhood eczema), sensitive skin, psoriasis and/or older age.

- These endogenous factors can exacerbate dryness of the skin and increase one's susceptibility to dermatitis.

In summary, transepidermal water loss caused by exposure to irritants compromises the defensive function of the stratum corneum and reduces its capability to protect the skin against environmental influences.

- The exposure time to irritants and their strength will be in direct proportion with the removal of protective lipids, proteins, natural moisturizing factors and water loss.

- With reduced water capacity, enzymes that discard the corneocytes will loss their function.

- If the water content of the skin is below 10%, these interacting elements are disturbed and the result is scaly, fissured, dry and less pliable skin.

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