Erythema induced by organic solvents: in vivo evaluation of oxygenized and deoxygenized haemoglobin by reflectance spectroscopy

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Abstract
Objective: (i) using a new non‐invasive technique capable of evaluating quantitatively and qualitatively the haemoglobin content of the skin (ii) to evaluate delipidization induced by organic solvents. Patients: 11 Caucasians treated for 1 min in a randomized manner on the volar forearm with a mixture of chloroform/methanol (2: 1) (CM) and ether/acetone (1:1) (EA) to delipidize the skin. Method erythema was evaluated by computerized remittance spectroscopy immediately after delipidization and hourly for 2 h. Results: only CM application induced subjectively observed and objectively quantified erythema. Erythema was related to a significant increase in oxygenized haemoglobin content due to dilatation of arterioles in the subpapillary plexus (PP<0.01) reduction in de‐oxygenized haemoglobin in venous vessels immediately after CM application. Conclusion: short contact with certain potent solvent mixtures causes erythema, possibly due to massive lipid extraction and damage of the skin barrier. Using computerized remittance spectroscopy the visible erythema was composed of an increase in oxygenized haemoglobin and a relative decrease in deoxygenized haemoglobin.