Key Features
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Those substances with a molecular weight larger than 500 Da can hardly penetrate through the skin covered by just a 10- mm thick SC as skin barrier.
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The SC barrier function depends on the presence of its unique intercellular lipids that are tightly bound to maturated corneocytes, whose formation is disturbed in diseased skin.
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The SC barrier function is not uniform and greatly differs among various body locations with extremely poor barrier function in the face and genital skin.
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The bypass pathway penetration through hair follicles and sweat ducts may allow quick but only small amount of penetration of externally applied substances.
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Excessive SC hydration induced by occlusion causes swelling of the corneocytes to lead to several to more than tenfold increase in percutaneous absorption of applied drugs.
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Normal SC binds water to keep the skin surface smooth and soft in contrast to pathologic SC with deficient water-binding capacity that produces a scaly or cracked skin surface.
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Corneotherapy consisting of daily applications of a highly moisturizing agent not only induces long-lasting increase in skin surface hydration but also repairs mild SC barrier dysfunction such as noted in atopic xerosis.
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Abbreviations
- SC:
-
Stratum corneum.
- TEWL:
-
Transepidermal water loss.
References
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Tagami, H. (2010). Percutaneous Absorption and Principles of Corneotherapy/Skin Care. In: Krieg, T., Bickers, D.R., Miyachi, Y. (eds) Therapy of Skin Diseases. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-78814-0_6
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