Comparison of Two In Vitro Models for the Analysis of Follicular Penetration and Its Prevention by Barrier Emulsions

The study compared the efficacy of barrier emulsions in preventing pollen allergen penetration into hair follicles using two in vitro models: excised human skin and porcine ear skin. It was found that porcine ear skin was a more suitable model due to its lack of contraction post-removal, unlike human skin which contracts and may not accurately represent follicular penetration. The results indicated that porcine ear skin provided a better platform for analyzing follicular penetration, suggesting that excised human skin might not be reliable for such studies.