The Basics of Human Skin Structure

Drug penetration and permeation through the skin are greatly influenced by thestructural properties of the skin and the physicochemical properties of the drug.As such, penetration enhancement techniques largely focus on manipulatingthese two key factors. A great deal of research has focused on the stratumcorneum, the primary skin barrier. In this chapter, we describe the structural properties of human skin, its functions, and the basic principles of drug penetra-tion. The lipid composition and structural organisation of the stratum corneum, as well as the pathways of drug permeation, are highlighted. This chaptershould provide a basic understanding of these topics and prepare the...