ABSTRACT
Mammalian skin provides a relatively efficient barrier to the ingress of exogenous materials and the egress of endogenous compounds, particularly water. Loss of this vital function results in death from dehydration. Compromised function is associated with complications seen in several dermatological disorders. Stratum corneum intercellular lipid domains form a major transport pathway for penetration (1-4). Perturbation of these lamellar lipids causes skin permeation resistance to fall and has implicated their crucial role in barrier function. Indeed, epidermal sterologenesis appears to be modulated by the skin’s barrier requirements (5).
