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Skin Deep: The Basics of Human Skin Structure and Drug Penetration

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Percutaneous Penetration Enhancers Chemical Methods in Penetration Enhancement

Abstract

Drug penetration and permeation through the skin are greatly influenced by the structural properties of the skin and the physicochemical properties of the drug. As such, penetration enhancement techniques largely focus on manipulating these two key factors. A great deal of research has focused on the stratum corneum, the primary skin barrier. In this chapter, we describe the structural properties of human skin, its functions, and the basic principles of drug penetration. The lipid composition and structural organisation of the stratum corneum, as well as the pathways of drug permeation, are highlighted. This chapter should provide a basic understanding of these topics and prepare the reader for advanced discussions in the specialist chapters that follow.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Brighton, Huxley Building, Lewes Road, Brighton, BN2 4GJ, UK

    Keng Wooi Ng

  2. Reading School of Pharmacy, University of Reading, Whiteknights, Reading, RG6 6AP, UK

    Wing Man Lau

Authors
  1. Keng Wooi Ng
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  2. Wing Man Lau
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Correspondence to Keng Wooi Ng .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Apoteka "Beograd", Belgrade, Serbia

    Nina Dragicevic

  2. San Francisco, California, USA

    Howard I. Maibach

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Ng, K.W., Lau, W.M. (2015). Skin Deep: The Basics of Human Skin Structure and Drug Penetration. In: Dragicevic, N., Maibach, H. (eds) Percutaneous Penetration Enhancers Chemical Methods in Penetration Enhancement. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-45013-0_1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-45013-0_1

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-662-45012-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-662-45013-0

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

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