Ethnische Unterschiede in der Hautphysiologie, Haarfollikelmorphologie und follikulären Penetration von topisch applizierten Substanzen

The study investigated ethnic differences in skin physiology, hair follicle morphology, and the penetration of topically applied substances among 18 volunteers from Caucasian, African, and Asian groups. While skin physiological parameters were similar across groups, Africans had higher melanin levels. Caucasians had larger terminal hair follicles compared to Asians and Africans. The hair follicle surface area was 3% for Caucasians, 2.6% for Africans, and 2.4% for Asians. No significant differences in penetration were observed after 30 minutes, but after 24 hours, Asians showed higher penetration levels, possibly due to cultural habits. The study concluded that while there are structural differences among ethnic groups, their impact on penetration is minor, and cultural habits should be considered in product development. Further research with larger groups is recommended.