Sebo-pharmacokinetics: a proposed percutaneous sebum egression method

Abstract

Background/Aims: The sebaceous gland is widely believed a critical factor in the pathogenesis of acne vulgaris. Although extensive studies document the ability of oral and topical treatments to improve acne, little is known about the quantification and mechanism of drug delivery via the sebaceous gland. A percutaneous egression method presents a way to study how drugs reaching the bloodstream can enter the skin.

Methods: A literature search was performed across databases (PubMed, Embase, and Google Scholar) and the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) textbook library with relevant search terms.

Results: This search failed to reveal data on sebo-pharmacokinetics (PK); however, many articles center on pharmacodynamics (PD) – i.e. functional improvement instigated by oral or topical treatments. Experiments on humans and hamsters – representative sebaceous gland models – demonstrate indirect PD measures of sebaceous gland function.

Discussion: Here, we summarize the current available data on drug delivery via the sebaceous gland and suggest a practical method to directly document sebo-PK in man and animal.

Keywords:

• Sebum
• sebaceous gland
• drug delivery
• isotretinoin
• pharmacokinetics
• acne vulgaris

Acknowledgments

Thanks to Dr. Howard Maibach for his guidance and expertise.

Ethics

This manuscript required no patient contact or animal experiments, and thus conforms to the ethical standards of the University of California, San Francisco.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.