INTERACTION OF LIPOSOMES WITH HUMAN SKIN - THE ROLE OF THE STRATUM-CORNEUM

Liposomal topicals may be superior to conventional ones in some skin d iseases such as atopic eczema particularly linked to disturbances of t he epidermal barrier, i.e. the stratum corneum, according to clinical findings, This is in keeping with the findings from light microscopic and ultrastructural investigations. While liposomes are taken up and d isintegrated by keratinocytes directly exposed they do not penetrate a n intact stratum corneum. Instead, they dissolve and form unit membran e structures and oil droplets, Although this view is backed by investi gations of differing types making use of various markers and most rece nt detection technology it has not yet been uniformly accepted.