The purpose of drug administration through the skin is to treat skin disorders on a topical level or to deliver drugs to the systemic circulation via transdermal absorption due to the variability in peak plasma concentration following oral and parenteral delivery. Ethosomes lipid-based nanovesicles with improved softness, deformability, and elasticity, are the most investigated vesicular system. Ethanol, cholesterol, and lecithin are used to prepare ethosomes. The loose hair follicles and Stratum Corneum (SC) percutaneous route allowed the ethosomes to permeate the epidermis. During percutaneous penetration, the vesicles were released into the superficial layer of the skin, allowing the therapeutic substances to penetrate while the phospholipids remained in the upper epidermis.
Skin physiology, drug physicochemical factors, and the delivery system determine the frequency and degree of drug absorption through the skin. The present transdermal dosage forms, such as patches, ointments, and creams, are associated with several limitations. One of the most unpleasant side effects of transdermal patches is skin irritation, caused by their occlusive properties, which block sweat ducts, preventing water drainage from the skin surface. Other disadvantages include difficulties applying to curved surfaces, pain while peeling away, and a lack of aesthetic appeal