In Vitro and In Vivo Study of Dye Diffusion into Human Skin and Hair Follicles
January 2002
in “
Journal of biomedical optics
”
TLDR Dyes can penetrate human skin and hair follicles up to 1.2 mm deep and the sebaceous gland can store dye; Indocyanine Green lotion was made for safe dyeing and monitoring.
The study investigated the diffusion of various dyes into human skin and hair follicles both in vitro and in vivo, using samples from six healthy volunteers. Indocyanine Green (ICG) was found to be particularly effective for deep penetration into hair follicles and skin, especially when used in a glycerol–ethanol–water mixture with DMSO. The research highlighted the importance of dye concentration and solvent choice, and suggested that these dyes could be useful for laser treatments targeting hair removal and skin diseases. The findings provided foundational knowledge for optimizing dermatological procedures involving dye application and laser technology.
