Topical Application Of Drugs Research Articles

PERMEABILITY AND ABSORPTIVITY OF THE SKIN

Because of the systemic and local effects of the cutaneous application of various medicaments, the permeability and absorptivity of the skin are of particular importance to the dermatologist. As far back as 1809 Mussey1proved that after topical application of certain drugs to the unbroken skin these drugs were found in the urine, and in 1901 Reilly2reported therapeutic effects after cutaneous application of such substances as belladonna, mercury, pilocarpine and cod liver oil and also the presence in the urine of salicylic acid, turpentine, guaiacol, creosote and phenol. It has been demonstrated3that substances soluble in oil are more readily absorbed through the unbroken skin than those soluble in water. Zondek4reported that drugs in solvents such as alcohol, ether, benzine and chloroform are more rapidly absorbed and in greater amounts than those incorporated in an oily base. He also reported that estrogenic substances in