[From research to practice: skin care--merely empiric?].

A modern skin care concept involving physiological lipids should be matched to the state of the skin, the season of the year and the presence of dermatoses. Also desirable would be substances that regulate the moisture status and barrier function of the stratum corneum, e.g. glycerin, in relevant concentrations. Of central importance in diseases associated with destruction of the uppermost layer of the skin, for example, neurodermatitis, is regular skin care with moisturizing products and a lipid composition that is as physiological as possible. In addition, the water and lipoid content of the skin care formulation should be matched to disease stage and the season of the year.