Objective To observe the toxic response caused by short time contact with some common disinfectants to the skin in laboratory animals. Methods Carries on the artificial skin breakage toxicity experiment using 2% glutaraldehyde, 0.2% and 2 % poracetic acid and 0.2 % sodium hypochlorite were applied to skin shaving wound in guinea pigs, and toxic changes and death of the animals were observed. Results 2 % gluaraldehyde caused erythema, edema and hemorrhagic spots. Desquamatlon occurred after 4 days and the erythema disappeared after 5 days, with a brownish discoloration left. 2% poracetic acid caused slight edema of the skin which disappoared after 3 days. 0.2 % poracetic acid and 0.2 % sodium hypochlorite did not cause any discernible skin toxic reaction. Conclusions 2 % glutarialdehyde and 2 % poracetic acid are toxic to the skin in animals and humans.