triceptor
Radio Host
Just an FYI on adding penetration enhancers... this is from my original post on the Avant Labs forum in reference to adding things like DMSO to PJU... the percentages are the range / maximum amounts of penetration enhancer that should be used when incporporating into PJU
To begin, the PHLOJEL Ultra formulation is the best formulation for localizing a drug in the skin. Eventually the drug diffuses away from the site increasing local concentrations in surrounding muscle,fat, fluids, etc. If the amount absorbed (a function of the concentration in the base and the amount applied) is relatively high then the drug also diffuses into the bloodstream via the capillaries. If you want to increase the amount of drug penetrating the skin (the epidermis) at a given concentration in the base then incorporating an additional penetration enhancer in the base might accomplish this. Common types of penetration enhancers in this context are menthol (1-3%), propylene glycol (5-10%), DMSO (dimethylsulfoxide, 5-15%) and d-limonene (1-3%). By their very nature they a tendency to disrupt the structure of the skin as well as the delivery system, PHLOJEL Ultra. Hence, products containing these are thin, more like a lotion but useable and effective. Menthol is a crystalline substance that requires considerable particle size reduction (levigation) in order to incorporate it and it has a strong odor and cooling sensation on the skin. DMSO is a strong penetration enhancer but is nonspecific with respect to what penetrates the skin (formulation ingredients also penetrate the skin significantly). Propylene glycol simply disrupts the water structure of skin allowing penetration through pores in the skin. D-limonene has been widely studied in Japan and has been shown to possess signifcant penetration power for a number of drugs applied from simple bases. It's related to menthol but doesn't have the disadvantages of menthol but its supply is limited and quite expensive (I don't know of a source at the moment).
Benzyl alcohol is almost strictly used in liquid formulations as a preservative (up to 2%) although it has been used as a solvent (5% and above) in some situations. I don't have any information about its incorporation in PHLOJEL Ultra but I would expect it to behave like any other solvent and be nonspecific with regards to what penetrates the skin. It would not be a solvent of choice in these situations. I hope this helps.
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