• Made in Germany
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DermaPurge

DermaPurge Skin Protection Set Skin plan at the wash area

Protect the skin before the incident and clean off PAHs afterwards, at one wash station with two robust EURO wall dispensers.

  • >96% PAH removal
  • 2 Ă— 500 ml EURO dispenser
  • very good pak-ex dermatest®
  • TRGS 401 Protective effect
Who is it for? Fire department

241,58 € net

287,48 € incl. 19% VAT · plus shipping

Available to order · Delivery in approx. 5 to 10 working daysShipping by DHL or DPD, heavy items by freight carrier

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  • Two steps in one place skin protection before, PAH cleaning after the incident
  • Both cosmetics per EU 1223/2009 no hazardous substance, no safety data sheet
  • EURO dispenser made of aluminum with stainless steel suction tube for daily station use
  • No process change use where the crew already washes today

For fire departments, authorities and municipalities

Quote with line items

  • Quantity and version to suit your needs
  • Purchase on account, XRechnung on request
  • Reply within one working day
Request a quote

For fire departments, authorities and municipalities: purchase on account, XRechnung on request
Einsatzkraft mit pak-ex – ausgezeichnet mit dem vfdb Excellence Award 2023

vfdb Excellence Award 2023 for pak-ex

Developed by experts

From the lab to the fireground

DermaPurge combines cutting-edge research with operational practice: the team led by PhD chemist Jonas Schubert develops skin cleansing solutions for research, industry, fire departments and civil protection, as a spin-off of the Leibniz Institute of Polymer Research Dresden.

Managing director Jonas Schubert has been an active firefighter for over 22 years, including as a breathing apparatus wearer and crew leader. He knows what an incident scene looks like after a fire, and what is practical there.

What pak-ex stands for

  • vfdb Excellence Award 2023
  • dermatest® “very good”: dermatologically confirmed skin compatibility
  • Spin-off of the Leibniz Institute of Polymer Research Dresden
  • Partner of the FeuerKrebs® initiative
  • Made in Germany

Rescuevation: As seen in the trade press

BKS Report logo, trade journal for fire protection, civil protection and security
Interschutz logo, the leading international trade fair for fire protection and rescue in Hanover. Rescuevation has exhibited there repeatedly
n-tv logo, German news television channel
Feuerwehrmagazin logo, German trade magazine for firefighters. Rescuevation took part in a panel talk on founding companies in the emergency services sector
KfW logo, Kreditanstalt fĂĽr Wiederaufbau, the German federal development bank. Rescuevation won an award at the KfW Award GrĂĽnden
BKS Report logo, trade journal for fire protection, civil protection and security
Interschutz logo, the leading international trade fair for fire protection and rescue in Hanover. Rescuevation has exhibited there repeatedly
n-tv logo, German news television channel
Feuerwehrmagazin logo, German trade magazine for firefighters. Rescuevation took part in a panel talk on founding companies in the emergency services sector
KfW logo, Kreditanstalt fĂĽr Wiederaufbau, the German federal development bank. Rescuevation won an award at the KfW Award GrĂĽnden

The invisible danger

The call is over, the PAHs are still there

Four things every responder should know about PAHs, and why showering alone is not enough.

  1. What are PAHs?

    Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons form in every fire through incomplete combustion. They cling to soot, and with it to skin, hair and turnout gear.

  2. Why are PAHs dangerous?

    Several PAHs are considered carcinogenic, and they also enter the body through the skin. Since 2022, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has classified occupational exposure as a firefighter as carcinogenic to humans.

  3. The smell that lingers

    If you can still smell smoke for days after a call, fire residues are still there, on your skin and in your hair. And where there is soot, there are PAHs.

  4. Carrying contamination home

    Without thorough decontamination, you take PAHs with you: into the car, into your home, to your family. That is why post-incident decontamination does not end at the station.

Âą Manufacturer figures from DermaPurge GmbH, a spin-off of the Leibniz Institute of Polymer Research Dresden.

Mode of action

The science behind pak-ex

>96%Âą of PAHs are removed from the skin, according to the manufacturer

pak-ex was developed by DermaPurge, a spin-off of the Leibniz Institute of Polymer Research Dresden. Its mode of action is physical: pak-ex binds the PAHs to clay minerals (kaolin and bentonite) and carries them off the skin when you rinse with cold water. Under UV light, the fluorescence test shows how much contamination is still on the skin after cleaning.

  • dermatest® “very good” Dermatologically confirmed skin compatibility
  • Leibniz Institute of Polymer Research Dresden Developed by DermaPurge, a spin-off of the institute
  • FeuerKrebs® initiative partner Commitment to the health of responders

Âą Manufacturer figures from DermaPurge GmbH, a spin-off of the Leibniz Institute of Polymer Research Dresden.

Fluoreszenztest unter UV-Licht: Hände vor und nach der Reinigung mit pak-ex

Fluorescence test under UV light: contamination before and after cleaning with pak-ex.

Why ordinary cleaning falls short

PAHs cannot be reliably removed with soap or wet wipes, and some products even increase uptake. The direct comparison:

pak-ex Conventional soap Wet wipes
PAH removal from the skinmore than 96%Âąinsufficientinsufficient
Cleaning power compared to soapup to 10 times higher¹Baselineworse than soap²
Free of penetration enhancersoften present: increases PAH uptake through the skin
What stays on the skin after cleaningunder 4%¹over 56%²over 77%²
Gentle on skin barriersoap-free, non-degreasingdegreases the skinoften irritates sensitive skin
Rated “very good” by dermatest®n/an/a

¹ Manufacturer figures from DermaPurge GmbH. ² Keir et al. (2023), independent study on skin cleaning after fire calls.

Using pak-ex after a fire call

Four steps, right at the incident scene, before contamination is carried into the vehicle or the station.

  1. Apply

    Apply pak-ex generously to visible soiling, without water, directly on the skin.

  2. Massage in

    Massage in gently to loosen PAHs from the skin without stressing the skin barrier.

  3. Rinse

    Rinse thoroughly with cold water, at most 32 °C: hot water opens the skin barrier.

  4. Mind the interface areas

    Hands, face, the front and back of the neck, plus the interface areas of your protective clothing at the wrists, hips and below the knees. pak-ex is suitable for all skin areas.

Tip for everyday operationspak-ex belongs at the incident scene: a 15 ml sachet in every turnout coat, a pump dispenser in the vehicle and at the station’s wash point.

pak-ex in action

PAH decontamination right at the incident scene is this simple.

Video: DermaPurge GmbH

Two ways forward

Don’t wait for procurement

pak-ex is available for you personally and for your whole fire department. Both routes reduce PAH exposure starting with the next call.

Recommended to start
For you personally

Lead the way in your fire department

You don’t have to wait until procurement has made its decision. A 500 ml dispenser for your locker, vehicle or bathroom at home, and you clean properly from your next fire call on. After that, your experience is the best argument for the whole fire department.

Why start here:

  • The 500 ml dispenser is ready to use right away: pump on, done
  • Shipped to your home address, with no procurement process
  • You don’t carry the contamination home with you
  • Your hands-on trial convinces your fellow firefighters
Recommended start 500 ml EURO pump dispenser
Get your 500 ml now

Net price excl. 19% VAT · Lead time approx. 5 to 10 workdays · Ships to private addresses too

For your fire department

Equip the wash point at your station

Two 1,000 ml EURO dispensers at the wash point, plus sachets for the turnout coats: that way skin cleaning kicks in right after the call, not only once you are home. Available on request as a wall dispenser system with a stainless steel tube.

Why this set:

  • 2Ă— 1,000 ml dispensers for the fixed wash point
  • 20 sachets for the turnout coats and the vehicle
  • Refills lower the running costs
  • Purchase on account for municipalities and emergency services
Recommended set 2Ă— 1,000 ml dispensers + 20 sachets
Request a quote

Reply within 24 h · Purchase on account

Skin Protection Set: pak-ex + BarrierBoost Dual, 500 ml, 2x EURO Dispenser
Komplett-Set

A full skin protection plan for your station

Protection before the call, decontamination afterwards: as a complete set with two EURO wall dispensers for the wash point.

  • Before:BarrierBoost Dual protects the skin even before the call
  • After:pak-ex removes more than 96% of PAHs after the call
  • Always ready:2Ă— EURO wall dispensers (500 ml) for a fixed spot at the wash point
€241,58 Net set price, excl. 19% VAT and shipping View the set

From the field

Voices from the field

„This is what fire department members need, especially immediately after a fire call.“
Dr. Andreas Häcker State Fire Department Physician, Baden-Württemberg
„The trial phase went extremely well. The skin redness and burns among the colleagues concerned have noticeably decreased since they started using pak-ex.“
Andrea Vogler Hazardous Substances Lead, Swiss Federal Railways
„I gave the skin cleanser to my site foreman to try out. Now he doesn’t want to give it back. All the colleagues on the crew are thrilled by how well it cleans and how good it feels on the skin.“
Jörg Schiekel Managing Director, NTG Bau GmbH

Product details

DermaPurge Skin Protection Set

The DermaPurge Skin Protection Set brings the complete skin protection plan to one wash point: BarrierBoost Dual protects the skin before the call, pak-ex then removes over 96% of PAHs (manufacturer figure). Both are dispensed from two robust aluminum EURO wall dispensers, 500 ml each. Protect before the call, clean after the call.

  • Two steps in one place: skin protection before, PAH cleansing after the call
  • pak-ex binds PAHs to clay minerals: under 4% residue on the skin (Keir et al. 2023)
  • BarrierBoost Dual protects against water-soluble and water-insoluble substances, tested per TRGS 401
  • Two aluminum EURO dispensers with stainless steel suction tube, built for daily station duty
  • Both are cosmetics under EU 1223/2009: not a hazardous substance, no safety data sheet
  • No change to your routine: used where the crew already washes today

Fire smoke stays on the skin

All fire smoke contains polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Several of them are considered carcinogenic; since 2022, the WHO’s IARC has placed occupational exposure as a firefighter in its highest category. The problem is not the visible soot, but the invisible, fat-soluble PAHs that enter the body through the skin. Especially at the interface areas of the turnout gear: wrists, neck, hips, below the knees.

Why water and soap are not enough

PAHs are barely water-soluble, so rinsing alone does not reliably remove them. Soap can even make it worse: surfactants, abrasive particles and hot water open the skin barrier (wash-in effect) and increase uptake. According to the study by Keir et al. (2023), over 56% of PAHs still remain on the skin after soap, over 77% after wet wipes.

The skin protection plan on the wall

The Skin Protection Set covers two steps at one wash point. Before the call, the crew applies BarrierBoost Dual: a 2-in-1 cream that protects against water-soluble and water-insoluble substances and cares for stressed skin before and after the call. After the call, pak-ex cleans: it binds PAHs physically to clay minerals (kaolin, bentonite), soap-free, without abrasive particles, with cold water (max. 32 °C).

Each is dispensed from its own aluminum EURO wall dispenser with stainless steel suction tube, robust enough for daily station duty.

What is proven about how pak-ex works:

pak-ex: over 96% PAH removal (manufacturer figure), under 4% residue in the independent study Keir et al. 2023, dermatest “very good”, vfdb Excellence Award 2023, listed in the Rosenbauer portfolio. BarrierBoost Dual: protective effect tested per TRGS 401 (test principle GS-PS-14). Both are cosmetics under EU Regulation (EC) 1223/2009, Made in Germany (Dresden, Leibniz Institute of Polymer Research).

The set reduces PAH exposure on the skin in line with the minimization requirement under § 7 (4) of the German Hazardous Substances Ordinance (Gefahrstoffverordnung). It does not replace PPE or respiratory protection but complements them.

FAQs

Is pak-ex suitable for the face and sensitive skin?

Yes. pak-ex is soap-free and contains no penetration enhancers and no degreasing components, so the natural skin barrier stays intact. Its skin compatibility was rated “very good” by dermatest®. Also suitable for the face and the front and back of the neck; avoid direct contact with the eyes.

How is pak-ex different from soap and wet wipes?

Conventional soaps degrease the skin and do not remove PAHs sufficiently. Many wet wipes contain penetration enhancers that can increase the uptake of PAHs through the skin. pak-ex removes more than 96% of PAHs, up to 10 times better than conventional soaps, while being gentle on the skin barrier.

Which pack size is right for me?

The 15 ml sachet is the portion size for your turnout coat and for individual decontamination right at the incident scene. The tubes (50/200 ml) are suited to the vehicle and bag, the pump dispensers (250 to 1,000 ml) to the fixed wash point at the station, optionally as a EURO wall dispenser system. Refills lower the running costs.

How long does pak-ex keep?

You can find the shelf life and the period after opening (PAO symbol) on each container and in the data sheet. Reseal the container after use.

Can you purchase on account?

Yes, public authorities, municipalities and fire departments can purchase from us on account. Contact us.

What is the delivery time?

Usually 5-10 working days. Heavy or bulky items are delivered by freight carrier.

Any volume discounts?

Yes, for group orders (e.g. for your whole fire department), we are happy to prepare an individual quote. Send an inquiry.

Can I buy pak-ex for myself?

Yes. Many responders first order pak-ex for themselves, as a sachet for the turnout coat or a tube for the locker, and then bring their experience into their fire department’s procurement. We also ship to your home address.

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  • dermatest® “very good” Dermatologically confirmed skin compatibility
  • vfdb Excellence Award 2023 Recognized by the vfdb e. V.
  • Agency support Personal advice