title: Percutaneous absorption of hydrocortisone and testosterone on the vulva and forearm: effect of the menopause and site.
abstract: The percutaneous absorption of hydrocortisone and testosterone was studied following their application to the vulvar and ventral forearm regions of pre- and post-menopausal women. Percutaneous absorption of hydrocortisone was significantly greater in vulvar skin than forearm skin in both pre- and post-menopausal women (P < 0.05, respectively), whereas the percutaneous absorption of testosterone was significantly increased (P < 0.01) on the vulva compared with the arm only in post-menopausal women. The effect of age on the percutaneous absorption of hydrocortisone and testosterone was evaluated by using the menopause as a biological chronometric end point. It is a common misconception that older skin has a diminished barrier capacity, and that percutaneous absorption is therefore greater. Our studies showed that absorption of hydrocortisone vulval skin of pre-menopausal women was significantly greater (P < 0.01) than in post-menopausal women. The ventral forearm skin of pre-menopausal women tended to show increased absorption compared with post-menopausal women, but statistical significance was not reached. No significant differences (P > 0.05) in the percutaneous absorption of testosterone in vulval or forearm skin were observed between the two age groups.
authors: Department of Dermatology, U.S. Naval Hospital Okinawa, USA.
authors: H A
authors: HA
authors: Oriba
authors: D A
authors: DA
authors: Bucks
authors: H I
authors: HI
authors: Maibach
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D005260:Female; D005542:Forearm; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone; D008593:Menopause / Q000378:metabolism*; D008875:Middle Aged; D017698:Postmenopause / Q000378:metabolism; D017697:Premenopause / Q000378:metabolism; D012869:Skin Absorption / Q000502:physiology*; D015595:Skin Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D013739:Testosterone / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D014844:Vulva / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D013739:Testosterone; D006854:Hydrocortisone