It has recently been suggested that the lipid-soluble, antibacterial agent triclosan possesses an anti-inflammatory effect in the oral cavity. The aim of the present study was to examine whether triclosan can protect the skin from the irritation or inflammation that may be caused by exposure to sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS). Finn Chamber patch tests on the forearms of 10 volunteers showed that a mixture of SLS and triclosan caused no inflammation, whereas SLS alone caused reactions in all the subjects. Pre-treatment with triclosan before SLS exposure had a slight effect whereas treatment after exposure showed a significant effect. It is suspected that the reported anti-gingivitis effect of triclosan may at least in part be explained by an anti-inflammatory effect.