Percutaneous absorption in diseased skin: an overview

Area of Science:

• Dermatology
• Pharmacology
• Materials Science

Background:

• The stratum corneum (SC) is vital for skin barrier function, regulating water loss and protecting against environmental hazards.
• While intact skin absorption is well-studied, data on compromised skin permeability, where topical treatments are often applied, is less common.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review and synthesize existing literature on percutaneous absorption through various abnormal skin models.
• To characterize how different conditions and treatments alter skin permeability.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of studies investigating percutaneous absorption through experimentally or naturally compromised skin models.
• Analysis of how physical disruptions (tape stripping, abrasion, freezing, heating) and chemical treatments (delipidization, sodium lauryl sulfate, UV exposure) affect absorption.

Main Results:

• Water-soluble compounds are more affected by tape stripping than lipophilic ones.
• Heating and freezing increase percutaneous absorption, while abrasion has less impact.
• Delipidization and sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) primarily affect hydrophilic compound absorption, though other irritants can increase both hydrophilic and lipophilic penetration.
• Psoriatic and atopic dermatitis skin show increased penetration, contrasting with UV exposure effects in animal versus human studies.

Conclusions:

• Various factors significantly alter percutaneous absorption in compromised skin, with effects varying based on the nature of the insult and the physicochemical properties of the penetrating compound.
• Further research is needed to fully understand these alterations and expand the database for a comprehensive physicochemical spectrum.