A method of enhancing the permeability of the skin to an analytic for diagnostic purposes or to a drug for therapeutic purposes is described utilizing micro-pore and optionally sonic energy and a chemical enhancer. If selected, the sonic energy may be modulated by means of frequency modulation, amplitude modulation, phase modulation, and/or combinations thereof. Micro-pore is accomplished by (a) ablating the stratum corneum by localized rapid heating of water (b) puncturing the stratum corneum which a microlancet (c) ablating the stratum corneum by focusing a tightly focused beam of sonic energy onto the stratum corneum (d) hydraulically puncturing the stratum corneum with a high-pressure jet of fluid or (e) puncturing the stratum corneum with short pulses of electricity to form a micro-pore of up to about 1000 µm in diameter.
