Skin
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The skin has various functions which include protection against damage by physical impact, chemical compounds, radiation or infections. Different factors, such as occupational exposure to substances, disease or application of cosmetic creams, may influence this barrier function. During the development of a cosmetic formulation/medicament or before putting a chemical to a market, it is, therefore, crucial to evaluate whether and in which amount it will impact the functionality of the skin. It is possible to make such an assessment using animals. This type of tests, however, has some drawbacks: it raises ethical questions, is time-consuming and expensive. Various alternatives were developed in order to overcome these difficulties. Some of these methods include the use of artificial skin models, which were developed and researched for many decades, or donated ex-vivo human skin. Following, you will find a collection of links which provide information on existing alternative methods, e.g. which skin models are available, what are the legal requirements. The provided selection of materials is not exhaustive and does not include peer-reviewed publications.
