Inorganic ions in the skin: Allies or enemies?

Małgorzata Tarnowska (1) , Stephanie Briancon (1) , Jacqueline Resende de Azevedo (1) , Yves Chevalier (1) , Marie-Alexandrine Bolzinger (1)

1 LAGEPP - Laboratoire d'automatique, de génie des procédés et de génie pharmaceutique

Skin constitutes a barrier protecting the organism against physical and chemical factors. Therefore, it is constantly exposed to the xenobiotics, including inorganic ions that are ubiquitous in the environment. Some of them play important roles in homeostasis and regulatory functions of the body, also in the skin, while others can be considered dangerous. Many authors have shown that inorganic ions could penetrate inside the skin and possibly induce local effects. In this review, we give an account of the current knowledge on the effects of skin exposure to inorganic ions. Beneficial effects on skin conditions related to the use of thermal spring waters are discussed together with the application of aluminium in underarm hygiene products and silver salts in treatment of difficult wounds. Finally, the potential consequences of dermal exposure to topical sensitizers and harmful heavy ions including radionuclides are discussed.

Keywords: Inorganic ions; Skin; Thermal spring waters; Skin absorption; inorganic ions; skin; thermal spring waters; skin absorption

Domains: Galenic pharmacology; Theoretical and/or physical chemistry; Life Sciences [q-bio]; Pharmaceutical sciences

Małgorzata Tarnowska, Stephanie Briancon, Jacqueline Resende de Azevedo, Yves Chevalier, Marie-Alexandrine Bolzinger. Inorganic ions in the skin: Allies or enemies?. International Journal of Pharmaceutics, 2020, 591, pp.119991. ⟨10.1016/j.ijpharm.2020.119991⟩. ⟨hal-02997261⟩