title: A method to improve the efficacy of topical eflornithine hydrochloride cream.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Facial hirsutism is a cosmetic concern for women and can lead to significant anxiety and lack of self-esteem. Eflornithine cream is indicated for the treatment of facial hirsutism. However, limited success rate and overall patient's satisfaction, even with a long-term and high-frequency application, leave room for improvement.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study is to test the effect of microneedle treatment on the in vitro skin permeation and the in vivo efficacy of eflornithine cream in a mouse model.
  
  
  METHODS
  In vitro permeation study of eflornithine was performed using Franz diffusion cell. In vivo efficacy study was performed in a mouse model by monitoring the re-growth of hair in the lower dorsal skin of mice after the eflornithine cream was applied onto an area pretreated with microneedles. The skin and the hair follicles in the treated area were also examined histologically.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The hair growth inhibitory activity of eflornithine was significantly enhanced when the eflornithine cream was applied onto a mouse skin area pretreated with microneedles, most likely because the micropores created by microneedles allowed the permeation of eflornithine into the skin, as confirmed in an in vitro permeation study. Immunohistochemistry data revealed that cell proliferation in the skin and hair follicles was also significantly inhibited when the eflornithine cream was applied onto a skin area pretreated with microneedles.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The integration of microneedle treatment into topical eflornithine therapy represents a potentially viable approach to increase eflornithine's ability to inhibit hair growth.
authors.affiliation: a Pharmaceutics Division , College of Pharmacy, The University of Texas at Austin , Austin , TX , USA and.
authors.forename: Amit
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.affiliation: a Pharmaceutics Division , College of Pharmacy, The University of Texas at Austin , Austin , TX , USA and.
authors.forename: Youssef W
authors.initials: YW
authors.lastname: Naguib
authors.affiliation: b Research Center of Molecular Biology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Inner Mongolia Medical University , Hohhot , Inner Mongolia , China.
authors.forename: Yan-Chun
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.affiliation: a Pharmaceutics Division , College of Pharmacy, The University of Texas at Austin , Austin , TX , USA and.|b Research Center of Molecular Biology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Inner Mongolia Medical University , Hohhot , Inner Mongolia , China.
authors.forename: Zhengrong
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Cui
mesh_terms: D000279:Administration, Cutaneous; D000287:Administration, Topical; D000818:Animals; D000518:Eflornithine / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005145:Face; D005260:Female; D018859:Hair Follicle / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D006628:Hirsutism / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D012867:Skin / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D000518:Eflornithine
keywords: Cell proliferation; hair growth inhibition; microneedles; skin permeation; unwanted hair growth