Purpose: Since topical application of sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) has been reported to elevate transepidermal water loss and decrease skin capacitance in areas immediately adjacent to the applied site, studies were carried out to quantify the extent of radial spread of SLS below a topically exposed site in a hairless rat model.
Methods: Fixed sites were demarcated and the levels of SLS measured around the applied site in the epidermis, dermis and the subcutaneous tissues. Underlying deep tissue penetration and radial spread of SLS in the presence and absence of a vasoconstrictor, phenylephrine, was also quantified.
Results: In a typical 24 hour study, the radial spread of SLS was observed to a distance of approximately 0.75 cm from the applied site. The use of phenylephrine (1:20000), did not significantly enhance either the local underlying tissue (apart from underlying epidermis) concentration or radial spread of SLS relative to no vasoconstrictor treatment.
Conclusions: Given that SLS impairs barrier function of the skin, its radial spread could be explained by a passive diffusion process. Vasoconstrictor did not remarkably alter SLS penetration and radial spread possibly due to the competing effects of vasodilation (caused by SLS) and vasoconstriction (caused by phenylephrine).