Toxicology of the Skin

This key volume of the Target Organ Toxicology Series provides a fresh and modern approach to the subject of skin toxicology from the perspective of how the skin forms a barrier that protects the body from the external environment and how chemicals and drugs interact with the barrier properties of the skin. Any defects or perturbations to this barrier may result in damage to the skin or may alter absorption.

With contributions from over 40 international experts in the field of skin biology, the book presents the central role of the skin barrier to health and disease reviewing;

• The skin’s anatomy and physiology, with focus on the stratum corneum as a barrier to foreign substances.



• Dermal absorption, cutaneous metabolism, and epidermal transporters.



• Altered barriers, racial skin types, aged skin, photoaged skin, cosmetics and skin sensitization.



• Modern approaches to drug delivery across the skin barrier, including liposomes, microneedle technology, active and passive transdermal delivery.



• Examples and case studies of chemical toxicity after topical exposures ranging from arsenic, metal working fluids, bromine, jet fuel, sulfur mustard and including the emerging area of nanomaterial penetration.

Toxicology of the Skin is essential reading for drug delivery pharmacologist, formulation scientists, dermatologists, toxicologists, molecular biologists, engineers, surgeons, students and anyone interested in skin irritation and skin absorption.