The microvascular response in the skin to topical application of methyl nicotinate: Effect of concentration and variation between skin sites

Background: Methyl nicotinate (MN) induces a local cutaneous erythema in the skin and may be used as a local provocation in the assessment of microcirculation and skin viability. The aims were to measure the effects of increasing doses of MN, to find the concentration that yields the most reproducible effect from day to day and between sites, and to study the variation between skin sites.

Methods: Microvascular responses to topically applied MN at different concentrations were measured in 12 subjects on separate days and on contralateral sides, using laser speckle contrast imaging (LSCI). MN effects were measured in four different body sites.

Results: At 20 mmol/L, the response to MN was most reproducible day-to-day and site-to-site, and resulted in a plateau response between 5 and 20 min after application. The skin region of the lower back had a lower perfusion value compared to the epigastric region (p = 0.007). When responses were compared to nearby, unprovoked areas, a significantly larger increase in perfusion was seen in the forearm, compared to all Other anatomical sites (p < 0.03).

Conclusion: A concentration of 20 mmol/L MN generated the most reproducible microvascular response in the skin. The response varies between different body sites.