Clinical trials: Sensitive skin testing

“Can your product be used on sensitive skin?” is undoubtedly the most frequently asked question by consumers to manufacturers of cosmetic products. Despite an extremely low number of reports of adverse reactions to Bio-Oil over the years, Future Cosmetics was commissioned to categorically ascertain whether Bio-Oil could in fact be used on sensitive skin.

Methodology
20 subjects between the ages of 18 and 65 – all with proven sensitive skin – were tested over a 96-hour period. Bio-Oil was applied via a patch to the forearm and the patch removed after 48 hours.

The skin was then evaluated and reactions noted at 48, 72 and 96 hours after application. A dermatologist was present during the evaluations.

Skin reactions were rated from 0 – 4:
0 - No response
0.5 - Minimal / doubtful response
1 - Very slight erythema, spotty or diffuse
2 - Uniform redness, itching or burning response
3 - Strong uniform redness, swelling or spreading
4 - Fiery redness

Bio-Oil had an average reaction value of 0.03 over the period of 96 hours.

Interesting to note is that de-ionised water had a reaction value of 0.54 - slightly more than Bio-Oil - on the same subjects, over the same period.