TLDR Targeting hair follicles can improve skin treatments and reduce side effects.
The document discussed how hair follicles significantly enhance the penetration of topically applied compounds by increasing surface area and disrupting the epidermal barrier. Hair follicles serve as reservoirs and major entry points for these compounds, which can help reduce side effects and improve treatment strategies for skin diseases. Various drug delivery systems are being investigated to target specific compartments within hair follicles, offering potential advancements in hair therapy, treatment of hair follicle-associated diseases, gene therapy, and immunotherapy.
Cited in this study
5 / 5 results
316 citations
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July 2004 in “The journal of investigative dermatology/Journal of investigative dermatology” Microspheres about 1.5 micrometers in size can best penetrate hair follicles, potentially reaching important stem cells.
1010 citations
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August 2000 in “Cell” Hair follicle stem cells can form both hair follicles and skin.
124 citations
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April 2000 in “Nature biotechnology” 
62 citations
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May 1997 in “Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences” Sebaceous glands in the skin play a key role in absorbing the antiandrogen drug RU 58841, especially when it's encapsulated in liposomes.
60 citations
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February 1997 in “Journal of Dermatological Science” Liposomes can safely and effectively deliver substances to mouse hair follicles, potentially useful for human hair treatments.
