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Developing an appropriate test first requires understanding the mechanisms of metabolism. As noted, when xenobiotics contact the skin, often the result is detoxification of the chemicals by converting lipophilic compounds into more polar, water-soluble compounds. This is accomplished through enzymatic reactions catalyzed by metabolizing enzymes present in the skin. Cytochrome P450 (P450 or CYP) is the key metabolic enzyme family, capable of metabolizing drugs and chemicals in hepatic and extrahepatic tissues, including skin.1–3 The special interest for CYP enzymes in skin is evident by the fact that most drugs used by practicing dermatologists are either substrate inducers or inhibitors of this enzyme family.1