Corsi di studio in
Farmacia - Chimica e tecnologia farmaceutiche

The course aims to provide knowledge on the safety requirements of products intended for cutaneous application. It also offers a foundational understanding of the morphological and functional characteristics of the skin and its appendages, which is useful for understanding how the skin responds to applied products.

Another objective is to present the concept of quality in cosmetic and dermatological preparations, primarily based on the evaluation of their chemical-physical and microbiological stability, and the assessment of their effectiveness.

Knowledge and understanding

At the end of the course, the student will have acquired a solid understanding of the safety requirements for products intended for cutaneous application. They will also be familiar with the morphological and functional characteristics of the skin and its appendages, which are essential for understanding the interaction between formulations and the skin surface.

The student will be able to describe the fundamental concepts related to the chemical-physical and microbiological stability of dermatological and personal care products, as well as understand the scientific basis of efficacy and tolerability tests, including patch tests, challenge tests, and in vitro studies. They will also be aware of the main issues related to the presence of contaminants (such as heavy metals), nanomaterials, and endocrine disruptors, and will be familiar with the relevant regulatory sources and frameworks.

Applying knowledge and understanding

Students will be able to apply the acquired knowledge to critically evaluate the technical documentation of a cosmetic product, identify potential issues related to its stability, safety, or efficacy, and determine appropriate testing strategies based on product type. They will also be able to interpret challenge test and patch test reports and understand the principles of alternative methods to animal testing.

Making judgements

Students will develop independent judgement skills regarding the quality and safety of cosmetic and dermatological preparations. They will be able to analyze scientific literature and regulatory documents to formulate well-reasoned opinions on the appropriateness of a formulation in terms of consumer safety and legal compliance.

Communication skills

Students will be able to clearly and effectively communicate issues related to the safety, quality, and efficacy of dermatological and cosmetic products, using appropriate technical-scientific language in both academic and professional contexts.

Learning skills

By the end of the course, students will have developed autonomous learning abilities that will enable them to stay critically up to date with scientific, regulatory, and technological advances in the field of cosmetic product safety and quality, also through primary literature, institutional databases, and official documents.

The course covers the following topics related to the safety and quality control of dermatological and personal care products:

• Morphological and functional characteristics of the skin and skin appendages;

• Safety assessment of a cosmetic product;

• Chemical-physical stability and accelerated aging tests;

• Microbiological control and challenge test;

• Efficacy studies;

• Evaluation of skin compatibility (patch test);

• Contaminants, nanomaterials, endocrine disruptors;

• Alternative methods to animal testing;

• Cosmetovigilance and surveillance;

• Safety Gate system (RAPEX);

• Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) and its Opinions.

The course is offered in the second semester and includes 32 hours of lectures held in the classroom, according to the predetermined schedule.

The learning assessment test consists of an oral interview, including at least three questions on the entire program covered during the course.

The student must demonstrate ability to elaborate on the concepts learned and to expose them through the use of specialized scientific terminology.

The materials (slides, official documents, links to websites) are made available on the Moodle platform during the course.

Teaching materials provided by the instructors (available for consultation on the Moodle platform).

- Please refer to the support services provided by the University for students with disabilities: (https://en.unito.it/services/students-special-needs/students-disabilities).

- In the case of specific learning disorders, please consult the University’s support services at https://en.unito.it/services/students-special-needs/students-specific-learning-disorders-sld and inform the instructors at the beginning of the course to agree on a personalized learning path suited to your needs. Information about compensatory and dispensatory measures for exams is available at: https://en.unito.it/services/students-special-needs/students-disabilities/support-students-disability-taking-exams

- For students with special educational needs, please contact the instructors of the course and the departmental representatives to define a personalized learning path tailored to their needs.