Journal of Clinical Toxicology
Open Access

Abstract

Toxicity and Genotoxicity of Beauty Products on Human Skin Cells In Vitro

Abdullah M Alnuqaydan and Barbara J Sanderson

Background: We use beauty products in high quantities every day and in the process, we are exposed to a wide variety of chemicals used in these products. These chemicals are a particularly insidious form of body pollution because they enter the human body through multiple routes. The problem with commercial products and particularly beauty products is that millions of people apply beauty products to their skin daily for long time. Objective: To determine the toxicity and genotoxicity effects of four facial beauty products on tow human skin cells. Also, to find out which product ingredients can induce the most toxicity and genotoxicity on human skin cells. Methodology: The in vitro toxicity and genotoxicity of facial beauty products were determined using a human keratinocyte cell line (HaCaT) and a human fibroblast cell line (CCD-1064SK). The products were an Anti-aging face moisturiser with mixture of natural ingredients (Facial Moisturizer - Camellia & Geranium Blossom) and Nivea Visage Q10plus Anti-Wrinkle which includes synthetic chemicals with TiO2 and Nivea Visage Q10plus Anti-Wrinkle which includes synthetic chemicals without TiO2. Glycerol was the negative control. Toxicity was measured by Crystal violet assay and Methyl tetrazolium cytotoxicity (MTT) assay. Apoptosis/necrosis proportion, nuclear division index (NDI) and genotoxicity were detected by cytokinesis block micronucleus (CBMN) assay. Results: Glycerol did not induce any toxicity or genotoxicity. Nivea Visage Q10plus Anti-Wrinkle which includes synthetic chemicals with and without TiO2 showed significant toxicity in both assays. No toxicity observed with Facial Moisturizer - Camellia & Geranium Blossom but there was a significant necrosis. Populations of cells treated with diluted Nivea Visage Q10plus Anti-Wrinkle which includes synthetic chemicals with and without TiO2 showed increased proportions of apoptosis/necrosis. The nuclear division index (NDI) was decreased by Nivea Visage Q10plus Anti-Wrinkle which includes synthetic chemicals with and without TiO2 and Facial Moisturizer - Camellia & Geranium Blossom. Nivea Visage Q10plus Anti-Wrinkle which includes synthetic chemicals with and without TiO2 showed increased frequency of micronuclei (MNi). Nivea Visage Q10plus Anti-Wrinkle face moisturizer with TiO2 proved to induce significantly more micronuclei (MNi) than the product without TiO2. Conclusion: The study results indicate that facial beauty products can cause cytotoxicity and genotoxicity in vitro using dilutions of the commercial formulations.