Therapeutic potential of spray-based delivery system for the treatment of dermatological disorders: clinical insights and formulation advances.

Dermatological disorders such as psoriasis, acne, fungal infections, and chronic wounds represent a persistent therapeutic challenge owing to their chronicity, recurrence, and the highly organized structure of the stratum corneum, which restricts effective drug penetration. Conventional topical formulations often exhibit several limitations, including non-uniform drug distribution, dose variability, limited residence time, and suboptimal patient compliance. Spray-based drug delivery systems have emerged as a promising alternative by enabling non-contact application, improved drug deposition, enhanced convenience, and reduced risk of contamination. This review critically examines the formulation strategies, mechanistic foundations, and therapeutic relevance of spray-based systems in dermatology while clearly distinguishing between preclinical and clinical evidence. Preclinical investigations predominantly demonstrate enhanced drug permeation, controlled release, improved skin retention, and superior pharmacodynamic responses across solution, foam, film-forming, and nano-enabled spray platforms. In contrast, clinical studies primarily highlight therapeutic efficacy, tolerability, cosmetic acceptability, and improved patient adherence across multiple dermatological conditions. By integrating mechanistic insights with translational outcomes, this review underscores the clinical potential of spray-based technologies while identifying areas that require further clinical validation. Future perspectives emphasize the need for standardized evaluation methodologies, robust clinical investigations, and clearer regulatory pathways to support the safe and effective adoption of spray-based dermatological therapies.