Recovery of Skin Barrier After Stratum Corneum Removal by Microdermabrasion

Abstract

Abstract. Microdermabrasion is widely used as a non-invasive cosmetic technique that has recently been adapted to selectively remove stratum corneum to increase skin permeability for transdermal drug delivery. This study measured the kinetics of skin barrier recovery after stratum corneum removal using microdermabrasion in hairless guinea pigs. The skin was abraded at two sites on each animal, one of which was allowed to recover under occlusion while the other remained non-occluded. Histological measurements showed that skin barrier properties to sulforhodamine B largely recovered within 12 h, and the stratum corneum appeared largely reformed within 24 h for both occluded and non-occluded skin. Skin electrical resistance measurements showed significant recovery of the skin barrier within 24 h. We conclude that transdermal drug delivery may occur for up to 12 h after microdermabrasion in guinea pigs; however, humans will probably have a longer recovery time due to expected slower skin healing rates.

The early effect of microdermabrasion on hydration and sebum level

“…Although this skin is widely accepted as a good model of the human skin, the process of healing can be faster than in humans. In guinea pig, the microdermabraded stratum corneum had fully recovered by 24 hours this process can be seen in our study by the gradual return of hydratation and sebum levels.…”

Transdermal Delivery of Molecules is Limited by Full Epidermis, Not Just Stratum Corneum

“…Our study conducted in vitro cannot assess these possible limitations. However, in a previous study we used similar microdermabrasion conditions to remove skin tissue in vivo in guinea pigs and monitored skin repair (30). We found that microdermabrasion that removed stratum corneum was well tolerated by the animals and that skin histology returned to normal appearance within 24 h. In a related body of literature, we and others have found that insertion of microneedles across the full epidermis and into the dermis is reported as painless, generates only mild, transient erythema and is otherwise well tolerated in human subjects (31–33).…”

Oral delivery of human biopharmaceuticals, autoantigens and vaccine antigens bioencapsulated in plant cells

“…Iontophoresis has been used in combination of absorption enhancers to carry insulin across skin [56,57]. Ultrasound [58], thermal ablation [59], microneedles [60,61], and microdermabrasion [62] were also carried out to administer insulin through skin. Recently, Phosphagenics completed human trial with its patented TPM/insulin formulation safely delivered insulin to patients with type 1 diabetes [63].…”