Drug Permeation Through Hair Follicles: Importance and Potential

The 2017 document discussed the importance of hair follicles as a pathway for the permeation of hydrophilic drugs and macromolecules through the skin, emphasizing their potential in targeting conditions like acne and androgenetic alopecia and for systemic drug delivery. It reviewed various studies on drug permeation, noting that hair follicle contribution to skin permeation varies with drug lipophilicity and formulation. The document also pointed out that in vitro studies may underestimate drug recovery from hair follicles compared to in vivo conditions and that particle size influences penetration depth. The conclusion stressed the need for advanced analytical methods and high-resolution measurement techniques to improve understanding of drug pharmacokinetics in hair follicles for better pharmaceutical formulation and safety evaluation.