Current interest in drug delivery technologies is exceedingly high. Similarly, a recent upsurge in consumer awareness of the potential antiaging and antiwrinkling benefits of natural products and botanicals has spurred a revolution in the cosmetic industry for better skin care delivery technologies, both to preserve inherent activity as well as to enhance their benefits through novel formulation and delivery methods.

With these considerations in mind, Skin Delivery Systems: Transdermals, Dermatologicals and Cosmetic Actives brings together the emerging fields of cosmetic actives with new advances in skin delivery technologies and provides a methodical and systematic explanation of technologies used to transport pharmaceuticals and cosmetic actives through the skin's barriers. After reviewing the basic principles of dermatology and skin penetration, the reference describes and explains the most current methods of transdermal transport. Coverage includes new materials, such as amphiphilic polymers; new formulation methods, such as miniemulsions; and variations on technologies such as sonophoresis and iontophoresis. The authors also show the connections between skin penetration and a variety of active substances, including specialized pharmaceuticals and natural and botanical ingredients used in cosmetics. The book presents critical empirical data and design information intended to assist researchers, product developers, and testers in the pharmaceutical and cosmetics industries.