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The Correlation Between Transepidermal Water Loss and Percutaneous Absorption

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Percutaneous Penetration Enhancers Chemical Methods in Penetration Enhancement

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Abstract

The extensive procedure required to measure percutaneous absorption versus transepidermal water loss (TEWL) enhances the desire to find a correlation between the two measurements in order to more easily assess skin barrier function and should aid in the understanding and development of penetration enhancers. However, experiments investigating a quantitative and/or qualitative correlation between the two indicators have resulted in controversy. In a review by Levin and Maibach in 2005, nine studies investigating the correlation between TEWL and percutaneous absorption were reviewed. Of the nine studies reviewed, a majority demonstrated a significant quantitative correlation, and a few found no quantitative correlation. At that time it was thought that the correlation between TEWL and percutaneous absorption may not hold for in vitro experimentation models, extremely lipophilic compounds, or possibly experiments performed on animal skin. Since then, several studies have been published investigating the relationship between TEWL and percutaneous absorption using a very lipophilic compound, in vitro models, and animal skin, and all studies have demonstrated a significant quantitative correlation. This chapter serves as an updated review of some of the major studies investigating the correlation between TEWL and percutaneous absorption.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Dermatology, Largo Medical Center, Largo, FL, USA

    Jacquelyn Levin DO

  2. Department of Dermatology, University of California School of Medicine, UCSF, San Francisco, CA, USA

    Howard I. Maibach MD

Authors
  1. Jacquelyn Levin DO
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  2. Howard I. Maibach MD
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Correspondence to Jacquelyn Levin DO .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Apoteka "Beograd", Belgrade, Serbia

    Nina Dragicevic

  2. San Francisco, California, USA

    Howard I. Maibach

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Levin, J., Maibach, H.I. (2015). The Correlation Between Transepidermal Water Loss and Percutaneous Absorption. In: Dragicevic, N., Maibach, H. (eds) Percutaneous Penetration Enhancers Chemical Methods in Penetration Enhancement. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-45013-0_6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-45013-0_6

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-662-45012-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-662-45013-0

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