Evaluation of skin optical clearing enhancement with Azone as a penetration enhancer

In order to find a non-invasive way to improve the efficacy of skin optical clearing with topically applied optical clearing agents (OCA), we evaluated the effect of Azone as a chemical penetration enhancer on optical clearing of intact skin in vitro. Fresh porcine skin with topical application of glycerol (G) mixed with various concentrations of water-soluble Azone (Aw) or propylene glycol (PG) mixed with oil-soluble Azone (Ao) was investigated. We measured changes in optical transmittance and diffuse reflectance of the skin under treatment with a near-infrared spectrophotometer. Light transmittance at 1276 nm increased by 37.3% and 41.1% at 60 min after the treatment in the cases with 40%PG5%Ao and 40%G5%Aw, respectively. Diffuse reflectance at 1066 nm decreased by 20.6% and 29.3% at 60 min after the treatment with 40%PG5%Ao and 40%G5%Aw, respectively. Forty percent glycerol or propylene glycol with the addition of Azone could achieve the same optical clearing effect as 80% glycerol. The results indicated that skin optical clearing with the topical application of glycerol and propylene glycol was markedly enhanced by both water-soluble and oil-soluble Azone. Skin penetration enhancing effect of Azone accounts probably for the skin clearing enhancement. In addition, Azone itself has shown optical clearing capability.