Howard I. Maibach: Extraordinary Leadership in Integrating Key Concepts Underpinning Our Understanding of Percutaneous Absorption and Occupational Dermatology

Abstract

The purpose of the present article is to briefly highlight some contributions of Prof. Howard I. Maibach to the field of dermatology. After a few introducing remarks regarding Howard's personal career, the article specifically reviews contributions to the understanding of percutaneous absorption and to occupational dermatology. He and his companions/coworkers established and introduced experimental prerequisites to better study and understand percutaneous absorption - both in vitro and in vivo. Not less influential was his contribution to occupational dermatology acting as a founding member of the International Contact Dermatitis Research Group and coinaugurating the North American Contact Dermatitis Group. These groups have been very active ever since. As an academic teacher, he inspired young colleagues to perform original research work and to establish their own working groups. He has done this most successfully with many fellows who worked with him over the years, and who are now leading departments or companies dedicated to dermatological research all over the world. Probably this is his most important and lasting achievement.

Formulation and Artificial Sebum Effects on the Percutaneous Absorption of Zinc Pyrithione through Excised Human Skin

“…Among the many extrinsic parameters that can affect percutaneous absorption [reviewed in 38, 39], solute concentration [40] and formulation effects on solubility [41] are known to influence the partitioning and subsequent diffusion of compounds in skin. This is true for organometallic compounds, like ZnPT, that are poorly soluble in water and typically deposited on the skin as a suspension of particles.…”

New approaches build upon historical studies in dermal toxicology

“…They also applied a range of organic compounds to the ventral forearm for 24 h and showed penetration of the compounds with a 250-fold range and maximum absorption rate to 1,000-fold. Maibach published extensively on human in vivo absorption through the skin for many years and his work was reviewed in 14 , 15 . Hadgraft, who had many publications on delivery, also reviewed the early literature 16 .…”