Laser‐induced thermal coagulation enhances skin uptake of topically applied compounds

Background Ablative fractional laser (AFL) generates microchannels in skin surrounded by a zone of thermally altered tissue, termed the coagulation zone (CZ). The thickness of CZ varies according to applied wavelength and laser settings. It is well‐known that AFL channels facilitate uptake of topically applied compounds, but the importance of CZ is unknown. Methods Franz Cells were used to investigate skin uptake and permeation of fluorescent labeled polyethylene glycols (PEGs) with mean molecular weights (MW) of 350, 1,000, and 5,000 Da. Microchannels with CZ thicknesses ranging from 0 to 80 μm were generated from micro‐needles (0 μm, CZ‐0), and AFL (10,600 nm) applied to −80°C deep frozen skin (20 μm, CZ‐20) and skin equilibrated to room temperature (80 μm, CZ‐80). Channels penetrated into similar mid‐dermal skin depths of 600–700 μm, and number of channels per skin area was similar. At 4 hours incubation, skin uptake of PEGs into CZ and dermis was evaluated by fluorescence microscopy at specific skin depths of 150, 400, and 1,000 μm and the transcutaneous permeation was quantified by fluorescence of receptor fluids. Results Overall, the highest uptake of PEGs was reached through microchannels surrounded by CZ compared to channels with no CZ (CZ‐20 and CZ‐80>CZ‐0).The thickness of CZ affected PEG distribution in skin. A thin CZ‐20 favored significantly higher mean fluorescence intensities inside CZ areas compared to CZ‐80 (PEG 350, 1,000, and 5,000; P