An ultrasonic device for medical skin care is used to gently exfoliate the skin of dead skin cells and impurities. Ultrasound waves help loosen and remove oil, dirt and cellular debris from pores. Ponophoresis or sonophoresis is the use of ultrasound to increase percutaneous absorption of drugs, serums, lotions, creams and masques to a depth where it is more effective and beneficial. For improved results and safer procedures, we need to know the contraindications and adverse effects of ultrasonic treatments. Therefore, we summarized and reviewed the issue of safety including contraindications, cautions, and adverse events.
Skin ; Skin Absorption ; Skin Care ; Ultrasonics

Transdermal drug delivery is applicable to only a few drugs because the stratum corneum is an excellent barrier to percutaneous absorption. Iontophoresis is a non-invasive technique which increases the drug deliveries into the skin through an electric current. In iontophoretic systems, the movement of ionized drugs is facilitated by electrical energy according to the basic electrical principles of "like charges repel each other and opposite charges attract". Iontophoresis has been explored for many dermatological applications with considerably successful reports. This article reviews the principles and advantages/limitations of iontophoresis, the factors affecting iontophoresis and its applications in various dermatological conditions.
Fees and Charges ; Iontophoresis ; Skin ; Skin Absorption

Radio frequency and iontophoresis are two commonly used types of medical skin care equipment, utilizing electrical energy. Radio frequency technology has become an important treatment in aesthetic medicine, and has many applications, including non-ablative tightening of the cutaneous tissue to improve skin laxity and to reduce wrinkles. Iontophoresis on the other hand uses a small electric charge to deliver medicine or other chemicals through the stratum corneum, the principle barrier to percutaneous absorption, without the use of a needle. It is used mainly for aesthetic reasons, including treatment of melasma, and for anti-aging therapy. Effective cosmetic results have been demonstrated for both these techniques in a number of studies. However, recklessness and incorrect use of the machines by unqualified practitioners can cause side effects. Here, we review the possible side effects and related coping strategies associated with radio frequency and iontophoresis.
Burns ; Hand ; Iontophoresis ; Melanosis ; Needles ; Skin Absorption ; Skin Care* ; Skin*

PURPOSE: To evaluate the average glandular absorption radiation dose(AGARD) that results from tube voltage, target/filter material of the X-ray tube, enterance skin exposure, breast thickness and patterns in routine mammography. MATERIAL AND METHOD: After obtaining craniocaudal views of left breasts of 114 women, entrance skin exposure was measured by dosimetry. Under identical conditions of tube voltage and target/filter material of theX-ray tube, we obtained half value layer (HVL) and also calculated exposure-to-absorbed dose conversion factor(DgN) by Wu's methods. AGARD was calculated by entrance skin exposure multiplied by exposure-to-absorbed dose conversion factor. We analyzed AGARDs according to tube voltage, target/filter material, breast thickness and pattern using ANOVA method of the SPSS statistical packages. RESULT: Breast patterns were divided into 4 groups such as DY (n=72), P1 (n=1), P2 (n=10), and N1 (n=31), respectively. Their AGARDs were 161.5, 180, 172.8, and195.2 mrad respectively and showed no significant difference among groups. When divided by breast thickness into three groups, namely below 3cm, 3cm to 4.5cm, and above 4.5cm, the AGARD of each group was 178.3, 178.1, and 112.4mrad respectively and the last one was significantly low. Concerning the effect of tube voltages, AGARDs gradually decreased by increasing kVp. Furthermore, AGARD was lower when rhodium (Rh) rather than when molybdenum(Mo) was used as filter/target materials. CONCLUSION: There was no difference in AGARDs by breast pattern. Asmore increasing KvP or using Rh/Rh as the target/filter material of the X-ray tube, we reduced AGARD for the patient with dense or thick breasts.
Absorption* ; Breast ; Female ; Humans ; Mammography* ; Rhodium ; Skin

Surgical method for blow out fracture of medial orbital wall is performed by medial canthotomy and subciliary incision or transconjunctival incision. However, these approaches can leave cosmetic problem due to skin incision and have a risk of infection and absorption of prosthetic implant for a large medial wall fracture. The authors performed endoscopic intranasal reconstruction of the isolated medial wall fracture in a case with significant functional impairment of extraocular muscle. After the incision of the middle turbinate, medial wall fracture was reconstructed with muco-periosteal flap under endoscopic control. We had a good result without intraoperative or postoperative complications caused by prosthetic implant. There was no disadvantage seen with the traditional approaches by medial canthotomy. Endoscopic intranasal reconstruction with muco-periosteal flap appears to be a new safe method for especially large defect.
Absorption ; Orbit* ; Postoperative Complications ; Skin ; Turbinates

BACKGROUND: The role of stratum corneum has been known to be the major barrier against percutaneous absorption. The change of osmotic gradient onto stratum corneum may affect the permeability barrier function though its mechanism has not been explained. OBJECTIVE: In this study, we have tested hyperosmolar glucose solution (1M, 0.1M) over the living skin or the separated epidermal sheets to determine the penetration-related pharmacokinetics such as absorption, saturation, diffusion kinetics in vivo or in vitro. METHODS: The hyperosmolar glucose patches were applied to 10 healthy volunteers' forearm skin to analyze the absorption profiles through stratum corneum. For investigating the role of osmotic pressure influencing the disposition of glucose, in vitro two compartment model was used to characterize the pharmacokinetics of glucose through epidermal sheets. RESULTS: The quantitative assay of applied hyperosmolar glucose from sequentially stripped stratum corneum of volunteers revealed the high glucose/protein ratio and steep concentration gradient at the uppermost layers down to lower layers. The pharmacokinetic profile of hyperosmolar glucose in vitro shows both the saturation delay pattern and steady flux pattern regarding glucose diffusion. CONCLUSION: The stratum corneum act as a major permeation barrier against glucose disposition, though the concentration-dependent pharmacokinetics by its osmotic gradient were rather different. Thus, the osmolarity-related event over stratum corneum might be a considerable factor during percutaneous absorption.
Absorption ; Diffusion ; Forearm ; Glucose* ; Kinetics ; Osmotic Pressure ; Permeability ; Pharmacokinetics* ; Skin ; Skin Absorption ; Volunteers

BACKGROUND: The mechanism of enhancing effect of ultrasound on the percutaneous absorption of a drug is unclear. But thermal, chemical and mechanical effects are assumed to play a role in enhancing transdermal drug delivery. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine if ultrasound enhances percutaneous absorption of methyl nicotinate(MN) without raising the skins surface temperature. METHODS: Treatment consisted of the application of ultrasound massage(1.0 MHz, 1.0 watt/cm2, continuous output) or placebo massage(0 MHz) for 3 min to the forearms of the volunteers, followed by a standardized application of MN at intervals of 15 sec and 10 min postmassage. Percutaneous absorption of MN was monitored using laser doppler flowmetry. RESULTS: 1. Data from the ultrasound treated sites after 15 sec showed significant decrease(p<0.05, paired t-test) in the T(0)(time between MN application and its initial response), T(MAX)(time between MN application and maximuvi response) and increase in the LDF(MAX) .(maximum cutaneous blood flow) compared to those of the control sites. 2. Data from the ultrasound treated sites after 10 min showed no difference in the T(0) and T(MAX) but significant increase in the LDF(MAX) compared to those of the control sites. 3. Data from ultrasound trvated sites both after 15 sec and 10 min showed significant increase in basal cutaneous blood flow(LDF(DH2O)) compared to those of the control sites. 4. There was no difference between the ultrasound treated sites and the control sites in the skins surface temper ature. CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggest that ultrasound may affect the skin structure to provide skin penetration enharcement even without raising the skins surface temperature.
Forearm ; Laser-Doppler Flowmetry ; Niacin* ; Skin ; Skin Absorption* ; Ultrasonography* ; Volunteers

Humans ; Nanoparticles ; toxicity ; Skin ; drug effects ; Skin Absorption

To establish a determination method for the contents of ammonium glycyrrhetate,nardosinone,and curcumin in transdermal receptor liquid of Baimai Ointment,and investigate the percutaneous permeability of Baimai Ointment and the effects of two kinds of penetration enhancers on percutaneous absorption of three components. The contents of ammonium glycyrrhetate,nardosinone,and curcumin in transdermal receptor liquid were determined by high pressure liquid chromatography( HPLC). The vertical modified Franz diffusion cell was used to perform a transdermal experiment in vitro with the abdominal skin of mice( treated and untreated). The transdermal receptor liquid was preferably used to investigate the transdermal absorption rule of the Baimai Ointment and the effect of the penetration enhancer. The results showed that the comprehensive solubility of PEG-ET-NS( 3 ∶3 ∶4) was best among three types of receptor liquid PG-ET-NS( 3 ∶3 ∶4),PEG-ET-NS( 3 ∶3 ∶4),ET-NS( 3 ∶7). PEG-ET-NS was used as the receptor liquid for in vitro transdermal experiments. The cumulative permeation area of ammonium glycyrrhetate,nardosinone and curcumin within 24 h was 5. 73,18. 99,0. 38 μg·cm~(-2)respectively. Taking QEFand ER as comprehensive evaluation indicators of permeation performance,the comprehensive penetration-promoting performance of ammonium glycyrrhizinate: 3% PEG 400-ethanol-normal saline ≈ 1. 19 times( 3%azone) = 1. 94 times( blank); comprehensive penetration-promoting performance of nardosinone: 3% PEG 400-ethanol-normal saline≈1. 28 times( 3% azone) = 1. 37 times( blank); the comprehensive penetration performance of curcumin: 3% PEG 400-ethanol-normal saline≈1. 77 times( 3% azone) ≈3. 42 times( blank). The comprehensive penetration enhancement properties of the two penetration enhancers were as follows: 3% PEG 400-ethanol-normal saline>3%azone>blank. The transdermal absorption curve of ammonium glycyrrhetate,nardosinone and curcumin in Baimai Ointment were consistent with the zero-order equation,indicating that the transdermal absorption process was irrelevant to the concentration of three components,and its was a diffusion process. This experiment provides reference for the study of ointment transdermal preparations.
Administration, Cutaneous ; Animals ; Mice ; Ointments ; pharmacokinetics ; Permeability ; Skin ; Skin Absorption

This study aimed to investigate the transdermal enhancing effect of essential oil from Zanthoxylum bungeanum(Z. bungeanum oil) in microemulsion gel(ZO-ME-gel) on permeation of different components,and reveal the transdermal enhancing mechanism of ZO-ME-gel. A series of components with different log P values were selected as model drugs and encapsulated in ZO-ME-gel to simplify and characterize the complex components of traditional Chinese medicine. The transdermal behavior of the model drugs was further examined using the improved Franz diffusion cell method. Then attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy(ATR-FTIR),differential scanning calorimetry(DSC) studies and hematoxylin-eosin(HE) staining were used to investigate the effects of Z. bungeanum oil and ZO-ME-gel on keratin,intercellular lipids and microstructure of the stratum corneum(SC). The results showed that Z. bungeanum oil and ZO-ME-gel had a good transdermal enhancing effect on both hydrophilic and lipophilic drugs,and the best effect was achieved when log P value was-0. 5. The transdermal enhancing mechanism of Z. bungeanum oil and ZO-ME-gel was related to affecting the order of the SC lipids,changing lipid fluidity and protein conformation,and disrupting the integrity of the SC structure. 5% Z. bungeanum oil had greater transdermal enhancing effect and destruction of SC structure than ZO-ME-gel. These results suggested that Z. bungeanum oil loaded in microemulsion gel still had a good transdermal enhancing effect although the effect was not as great as Z. bungeanum oil itself,in addition,ZO-ME-gel was less irritating to the skin and safer to use,which had a guiding role in the development and clinical application of Z. bungeanum oil-containing traditional Chinese medicine topical preparations.
Administration, Cutaneous ; Oils, Volatile ; Skin ; Skin Absorption ; Zanthoxylum