PERCUTANEOUS ABSORPTION OF VITAMINS 167 cosmetic and pharmaceutical products for cosmetic-therapeutic effect. Among the marketed cosmetic and pharmaceutical preparations containing panthenol are the following forms, namely, creams, hair and scalp prep- arations, lipsticks, after-shave lotions and aerosol hair sprays. In hair lotions panthenol not only increases the pantothenic acid content of the hair but also serves as an excellent grooming agent. Factors making panthenol a desirable addition to hair lotions also apply to hair sprays. Since panthenol also exhibits hair setting properties, very suitable aerosol hair spray formulations can be prepared using it as the hair setting in- gredient in place of polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl pyrrolidone and certain types of resins, whose safety has recently been questioned (49, 50). The trend in the formulation of modern cosmetic preparations is to include ingredients with proved therapeutic usefulness. In this respect panthenol is particularly valuable in skin creams and lotions since it has been demonstrated not only to aid healing processes by promoting epi- thelization and granulation of damaged tissues, but also to be entirely free of sensitization and irritation problems. These properties of panthenol make it a worthwhile addition to other cosmetic preparations applied to parts of the body subject to irritations and abrasions. Included in this category are the lips, which are subject to chapping and allergic reactions, shaved areas, which are subject to excoriations, and the underarm region which is subject to irritations arising from perspiration and antiperspirant products. Thus the incorporation of panthenol into lipsticks, after-shave lotions and antiperspirant products has merit. I/itamin B6 Absorption of pyridoxine by the rat after topical application has been claimed (51). In human trials Schreiner et al. (52) observed that many patients with the siccus type of seborrheic dermatitis responded to local application of pyridoxine cream. This observation was not confirmed by Effers•e (53). Further studies by Wayne et al. (54) by double blind tech- nique demonstrated that the effect was due to the ointment base. How- ever, five subjects with seborrhea treated with pyridoxine cream on one side of the face and placebo cream on the other improved in four to seven days on the side to which the pyridoxine •cream was applied the other side was unchanged or worsened. Assay of skin biopsy specimens from normal subjects indicated a marked rise in the pyridoxine content of skin after topical application of pyridoxine, whereas intramuscular administra- tion had no effect on the skin levels of vitamin B6. Villela (55) has re- ported that 22 per cent to 41 per cent of topically applied pyridoxine hy- drochloride was absorbed through the skin and that most of the absorbed vitamin was excreted as 4-pyridoxic acid in the urine in the following twenty-two hours.

168 JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY OF COSMETIC CHEMISTS Thiamine, Riboflavin and Pantothenate Kasahara et al. (56) reported the cure of polyneuritis in pigeons when thiamine was rubbed into the breast. Schaefer et al. (51) demonstrated absorption of this vitamin in deficient rats. The criteria used were weight gain, urinary excretion and cure of polyneuritis. Riboflavin and Ca pantothenate also have been shown to be absorbed percutaneously (51). Mouchette (57) reported that in the guinea pig local application of sodium pantothenate solution increases mitosis in both regenerating skin foci and normal skin. Vitamin C An increase in the ascorbic acid content of mother's milk after topical application of vitamin C to the breast was found by Kasahara and Kawa- shima (58). Niacinamide Dainow (59) reported that the topical application of an ointment con- taining 4 per cent niacinamide in an inert excipient exhibited antipruritic, keratolytic and keratoplastic properties. SUMMA RY There is a considerable body of evidence which indicates that all vitamins are absorbed through animal skin. More limited human data suggest that in man the situation is similar. However, penetration into animal and human skin for a particular vitamin may proceed at a different rate. Vitamin A illustrates the case in point: whereas percutaneous absorp- tion through animal skin proceeds relatively rapidly, vitamin A is absorbed in man only to a relatively small degree. On the other hand, panthenol and pyridoxine appear to penetrate both animal and human skin relatively well. When applied topically, many of the vitamins, particularly panthenol, have shown therapeutic effects. The beneficial action of panthenol has resulted in its incorporation into a variety of cosmetic preparations, fre- quently in conjunction with vitamin A and other vitamins. BIBLIOGRAPHY (l) Eller, J. J., and Wolff, S., 7. Arm. Med. Atssoc., 114, 2002 (1940). (2) De Ritter, E., Magid, L., and Sleezer, P. E., Arm. Perfumer Atrom., 73, 54 (1959). (3) Siemers, G. F., and Sleezer, P. E., Drux & CosmeticInd., g4, 38 (1954). (4) Harry, R. G., "Cosmetics--Their Principles and Practices," New York, Chemical Pub- lishing Co. (1956). (5) Sagafin, E., "Cosmetics--Science and Technology," New York, Interscience Publishers, Inc. (1957). (6) Hadgraft, J. W., and Somers, G. F., •. Pharm. and Pharmacol., 8, 625 (1956). (7) Gemmell, D. H. O., and Morrison, J. C.,ibid., 10, 553 (1958). (8) Gemmell, D. H. O., and Morrison, J. C., Ibid., 9, 641 (1957). (9) Blank, I. J., •. $oc. Cosmetic Chemists, 11, 59 (1960).