Source: Medicines & Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (GB) Revision Year: 2018 Publisher: GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare (UK) Trading Limited <u>trading as:</u> Stiefel, 980 Great West Road, Brentford, Middlesex, TW8 9GS,United Kingdom
Pharmacotherapeutic Group: Dermatologicals, Other dermatological preparations, Antihidrotics.
ATC Code: D11AA
Aluminium chloride hexahydrate acts locally, in the stratum comeum and in the terminal duct, to relieve hyperhidrosis.
Aluminium chloride hexahydrate is acidic and is thought to act by diffusing into the sweat ducts where on neutralisation it forms gelatinous hydroxides which obstruct the flow of sweat.
The antiperspirant effect of aluminium chloride hexahydrate is partly explained by production of mechanical blockage in the eccrine sweat duct. Following application, aluminium is found in the stratum corneum and intra-luminally in the terminal duct.
It has been suggested that the metal ions form precipitating complexes with the mucopolysaccharides and carboxyl groups of the stratum corneum. This causes damage to the luminal epithelial cells, generating an obstructive conglomerate which plugs the acrosyringium. Studies of long-term treatment with aluminium chloride have shown that prolonged application leads to functional and structural degeneration of the eccrine acini, accounting for the observed progressive decrease in severity of hyperhidrosis during treatment.
Not applicable.
Due to the effective absorption barriers of gut, lung and skin, the absorption rates of aluminium via the oral, inhalational and dermal routes are 0.1-0.3%, 1.5-2%, and approximately 0.01% respectively.
About 90% of plasma aluminium is bound to transferrin, 7% occurs as citrate, and less than 1% as phosphate and hydroxide.
More than 99% of orally ingested aluminium is eliminated via faeces. Of the small amounts of aluminium absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract, more than 95% is excreted in the urine.
© All content on this website, including data entry, data processing, decision support tools, "RxReasoner" logo and graphics, is the intellectual property of RxReasoner and is protected by copyright laws. Unauthorized reproduction or distribution of any part of this content without explicit written permission from RxReasoner is strictly prohibited. Any third-party content used on this site is acknowledged and utilized under fair use principles.
