Effect of Surfactants on the Skin Microbiome

The timeline for the patients will be as follows:

On Day 0, after being given a witnessed, written, informed consent, a medical history and a limited physical exam will be performed. If using certain topical products and medications that are not allowed during this study, patients may be asked to withhold them for the remainder of the study. The study doctor or study coordinator will explain which medications and activities are not allowed during this study. Baseline bacterial swabs from the bilateral volar forearms will be collected followed by application and rinsing of a hand wash with an antimicrobial compound (benzalkonium chloride or triclocarban) on the right forearm, and a cleanser without an antimicrobial compound (control) on the left forearm. 200 microliters of water/hand wash will be applied to the volar forearms and lather generated for 15 seconds using a gloved hand. The lather will be allowed to stay in contact with the skin for an additional 30 seconds. The total contact time will be 60 sec. The forearm will be rinsed with running tap water for 15 seconds, air-dried for 5 minutes and the skin surface will again be swabbed for bacteria 10 minutes after the wash. The same procedure will be repeated on the 2nd volar forearm with the opposing wash. Subjects will then have repeat skin swabs at 6 hours +/- 1 hour and at 24 hours +/- 6 hours after washing. Subjects will be instructed to avoid rigorous exercise/swimming, significant sun exposure (i.e. sunbathing), cleaning the forearms with other antibacterial products, and showering during these 24 hours.

Inclusion criteria

Those who meet all of the following criteria are eligible for enrollment into the study:

• Age 18-60 years
• Male or female of any race and ethnicity
• Subject agrees to comply with study requirements.

Exclusion criteria

• Subjects with severe medical condition(s) that in the view of the investigator prohibits participation in the study
• Dermatologic disease such as psoriasis or atopic dermatitis which may have inherently abnormal antimicrobial peptide levels
• Subject has Netherton's syndrome or other genodermatoses that result in a defective epidermal barrier
• Pregnant or nursing females
• Immunocompromised subjects (e.g., lymphoma, HIV/AIDS, Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome), or with a history of active or malignant disease (excluding non-melanoma skin cancer) as determined by the participant's medical history.
• Subjects with a history of psychiatric disease or history of alcohol or drug abuse that would interfere with the ability to comply with the study protocol
• Subjects with significant concurrent medical condition(s) at screening that in the view of the investigator prohibits participation in the study (e.g., severe concurrent allergic disease, condition associated with malignancy, and condition associated with immunosuppression)
• Active viral or fungal skin infections at the target areas
• Are currently receiving lithium, antimalarials, or intramuscular gold now or within the last 4 weeks.
• Ongoing participation in an investigational drug trial
• Use of any oral or topical antibiotic during the study and up to one week prior to entering the study
• Use of any local topical medications less than one week prior to screening
• Use of any systemic immunosuppressive therapy less than four weeks prior to screening.
• Subjects with a history of or propensity to developing reactions after use of over the counter cleansers
• Subjects with diabetes