TLDR Rubbing increases drug absorption through hair follicles.
The study examined how rubbing affects the distribution of topically applied caffeine (CAF) in the skin, particularly in the stratum corneum and hair follicles, using porcine ear skin. Rubbing significantly increased CAF concentration and permeation, with more than six times higher concentrations in the viable epidermis and dermis observed shortly after application. Rubbing against the natural hair direction resulted in the highest skin permeation, likely due to changes in the hair follicle opening area. These findings suggested that rubbing enhances drug delivery through hair follicles and could inform the development of more effective topical formulations. Further research was recommended to explore different formulations and skin sites.
7 citations
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February 2018 in “International Journal of Pharmaceutics” Researchers developed a method to measure drugs in hair follicles and found that both water-loving and fat-loving drugs can be detected after being applied to the skin.
94 citations
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May 2011 in “BJCP. British journal of clinical pharmacology/British journal of clinical pharmacology” Hair follicles greatly increase caffeine absorption through the skin shortly after it's applied.
74 citations
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June 2010 in “European Journal of Pharmaceutics and Biopharmaceutics” Minoxidil foam enters hair follicles and skin for hair growth.
82 citations
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May 2009 in “BJCP. British journal of clinical pharmacology/British journal of clinical pharmacology” Caffeine penetrates human skin in lab tests similarly to real-life conditions, but actual skin use is still essential for accurate results.
211 citations
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February 2009 in “European journal of pharmaceutics and biopharmaceutics” Hair follicles help absorb and store topical compounds, aiding targeted drug delivery.
405 citations
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January 2004 in “Journal of Investigative Dermatology” Hair follicle size and distribution vary significantly across different body sites.
4 citations
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July 2023 in “Pharmaceutics (Basel)” Nanoparticle-based drug delivery to hair follicles is more effective when tested under conditions that match skin behavior.
5 citations
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May 2020 in “Pharmaceutical Research” Heat and chemicals improve finasteride delivery to scalp and hair follicles, potentially enhancing treatment for hair loss.
1 citations
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July 2005 in “Informa Healthcare eBooks” Hair follicles could be used for targeted drug delivery, with liposomal systems showing promise for this method.
1 citations
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July 2021 in “Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin/Chemical and pharmaceutical bulletin” Rubbing skin increases absorption of water-soluble drugs from lotions and creams, but not oil-soluble drugs.
211 citations
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June 2012 The skin is a complex barrier for drug penetration, but understanding its structure and interactions can improve drug delivery methods.
