Liposomes for atopic dry skin: the rationale for a promising approach.

Atopic dry skin characterized by a defect of the barrier function as determined by transepidermal water-loss measurements at the ultrastructural level shows an increase in membrane-coating granules (MCGs). MCGs are lamellar, ovoid organelles appearing in the stratum spinosum and stratum granulosum. MCGs consist of stacks of small parallel disks that are extruded and fuse to continuous lamellae. Liposomes, i.e., unior multilamellar vesicles composed of alternating lipid and water phases are structurally similar. Moreover, they also can form continuous lamellae. While phospholipids are generally used for liposome production, skin lipids and in particular ceramides can also be used. These lipids also seem to be the major components of MCGs. Hence, it seems advisable to use liposomes made of such lipids in the treatment of atopic dry skin. Apart from the probable inherent effect liposomes of this type may also apply particularly well for the delivery of active components.