Hydrocortisone absorption rate

Bast, G.E and Kampffmeyer, H.G. (1996). No effect of albumin on the dermal absorption rate of hydrocortisone 21-butyrate, permethrin or diflunisal in the isolated, singlepass perfused rabbit ear. Skin Pharmacol, 9, 327-333. 

Behl, C.R. Flynn, G.L. Linn, E.E. Smith, W.M. Percutaneous absorption of corticosteroids age, site and skin-sectioning influences on rates of permeation of hairless mouse skin by hydrocortisone. J. Pharm. Sci. 1984, 73, 1287-1290. 

The state of hydration of the stratum corneum, which is normally maintained at 10-15%, affects the rate of penetration of chemical substances. By increasing the state of hydration to 50%, the rate of permeation of some chemical substances through the epidermis can be increased up to 10-fold. ° Occlusion has been shown to enhance the pharmacological effect of topically applied hydrocortisone and fluocinolone acetonide " however, percutaneous absorption of drugs is not necessarily increased. The degree of occlusion-induced absorption enhancement appears to increase with increasing lipophilicity of drug substances. 

Lehman, P. A., I. N. Agrawa, T. J. Franz, K. J. Miller, and S. Franz. 1996. Comparison of topical hydrocortisone products Percutaneous absorption vs. tape stripping vs. vasoconstriction vs. membrane rate of release. Pharm. Res. 13 S310. 

One factor must not be overlooked when applying potent anti-inflammatory agents with high mineralocorticoid activity to the skin. Consideration must be given to percutaneous absorption. Sodium retention and edema occur in patients with dermatitis who apply as much as 75 mg of fludrocortisone acetate (i.e., 30 mL of a 0.25% lotion) to the skin in 24 hours. The relative rate of percutaneous absorption, administered as a cream in rats, was triamcinolone acetate > hydrocortisone > dexamethasone, but dexamethasone was deposited in skin longer than the other two drugs. Hydrocortisone disappeared most rapidly (159). 

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