Mechanisms of anionic surfactant penetration into human skin: Investigating monomer, micelle and submicellar aggregate penetration theories.

Neither monomer nor micelle penetration theories are sufficient to explain anionic surfactant penetration into human skin. Submicellar (or premicellar) aggregate penetration theory is difficult to defend at relevant surfactant concentrations. We propose a new hypothesis for this mechanism in which short-term penetration is based on monomer concentration and longer term penetration is based on surfactant-induced damage to the skin barrier.