Barrier / Penetration

TESTING

1 min read

Regulations with regard to what is allowed to penetrate the skin barrier and what is allowed to pass through it is strict. For cosmetics limited penetration is allowed. For pharmaceuticals deep penetration is allowed following clinical trials.

If a particular ingredient or chemical is known it can be applied to the skin and then the skin can be sectioned and the chemical investigated in each layer, sometimes with staining if an antigen or side-chain of a molecule is known. Otherwise, mass spectrometry can be applied if the overall known structure and characteristics of the product are known.

Penetration can also be evaluated with Franz cell permeation.

In other cases, where the barrier is wished to be stronger, then prevention of penetration of fluorescent chemicals such as Lucifer Yellow can be investigated.

Lucifer yellow penetration through the skin barrier.

Click on the box to enlarge. For more information on the test contact us. We have extensive partners globally to help expand the range of tests we can offer. If you can't find a particular test, we probably have access to it.

Cytokeratin-10 staining. KLK5 treatments. Protease treatments and measurement are all available for smoothing research and testing.

Barrier analysis with Franz cell can also be performed to view known chemical penetration.