Lipid distribution on ethnic hairs by Fourier transform infrared synchrotron spectroscopy.

Background: A synchrotron-based Fourier transform infrared micro-spectrometer (μ-FTIR) allows the spatial determination of lipids across the different layers of ethnic hairs and differentiates between the lipid order arrangement and quantity.

Materials And Methods: The three ethnic fibers were delipidized, the lipid extracts were characterized, and the delipidized fibers were studied by dynamic vapor sorption experiments (DVS) and FTIR-synchrotron techniques.

Results: The average spectra from the different hair regions exhibited the most intense CH sym peaks on the medulla, followed by those from the cuticle and cortex for all hairs of different ethnicities.

In vitro penetration through the skin layers of topically applied glucocorticoids.

Corticoids are actives widely used in the treatment of skin diseases. This work aims to study the penetration of 3 corticoids (betamethasone, clobetasol, and flurandrenolide), their relationship with their Log D values and the effects of the vehicles. The 3 compounds were applied on a Franz-type diffusion cell in propylene glycol solution and their respective commercial creams and ointments.