Abstract: The authors analysed the results of the multiple irrtant skin tests in guinea pigs,which assessed the irritation of the cosmetics (included 2 categories, 3 forms and 32 kinds) with half-quantity method.We found that the multiple skin irritant index grade was linearly correlated with the histological scale grade (r=0.997, P<0.01).These results showed that the ir ritant extent of cosmetics might be evaluated by the multiple skin irritant index grade or the histological scale grade.The irritation of various forms of cosmetics was different significantly (P<0.05).The authors suggest that the evaluation standard of irritation of cosmetics must be different in each form of cosmetics.

Key words: Multiple irritant skin tests, Multiple skin irritant index grade, Histological scale grade, Cosmetics