The physical chemistry of the stratum corneum lipids

Abstract

The extracellular matrix of stratum corneum (SC) participates actively in the defensive performance of human skin. Understanding its physicochemical properties is essential for understanding the skin homoeostasis, for the development of efficient therapies for skin disorders and diseases and for ensuring the safety of products designed for topical application. This article summarizes the current knowledge of the composition, self-assembly and molecular organization of the SC lipids, reviews the evidence connecting these parameters and the barrier properties of human skin, and outlines the immediate issues in the field of SC lipid research.