Historical overview of topical skin protectant development

A requirement for a topical skin protectant (TSP) to protect skin from toxic chemical warfare (CW) agents was recognized immediately following the introduction of these agents in World War I. No TSP was available before the end of the war. Research in the area of protective ointments continued between the two World Wars. Just prior to and during World War II, a concentrated effort to develop ointments for protection against sulfur mustard (HD) took place. The Army produced the M-5 protective ointment during World War II, which was manufactured in 1943 and 1944. The M-5 ointment, however, left room for improvement. Following the end of World War II, a number of attempts were made to develop effective barriers or TSPs to various chemical warfare agents, including, for the first time, the lethal organophosphorus (OP) nerve agents.