The use of nanotechnology has been extensively explored for developing efficient drug delivery systems towards topical and transdermal applications. Ethosomes constitute a vesicular nanocarrier containing a relatively high concentration of ethanol (20–45%). Ethanol is a well-known permeation enhancer, which confers ethosomes unique features, including high elasticity and deformability, allowing them to penetrate deeply across the skin and enhance drug permeation and deposition. The improved composition of ethosomes offer, thereby, significant advantages in the delivery of therapeutic agents over particularly the conventional liposomes regarding different pathologies, including acne, psoriasis, alopecia, skin infections, hormonal deficiencies, among others. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the ethosomal system and an assessment of its potential as an efficient nanocarrier towards the skin delivery of active ingredients. Special attention is given to the composition of ethosomes and the mechanism of skin permeation, as well as their potential applications in different pathologies, particularly skin pathologies (acne, psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, skin cancer and skin infections). Some examples of ethosome-based formulations for the management of skin disorders are also highlighted. Besides the need for further studies, particularly in humans, ethosomal-based formulations hold great promise in the skin delivery of active ingredients, which increasingly asserts oneself as a viable alternative to the oral route.

纳米技术的使用已被广泛探索用于开发面向局部和透皮应用的有效药物递送系统。Ethosomes 构成一个囊泡纳米载体，其中含有相对高浓度的乙醇 (20-45%)。乙醇是一种众所周知的渗透促进剂，它赋予 Ethosomes 独特的特性，包括高弹性和可变形性，使它们能够深入渗透皮肤并增强药物渗透和沉积。因此，关于不同病理，包括痤疮、银屑病、脱发、皮肤感染、激素缺乏等，改进的脂质体组合物在递送治疗剂方面提供显着优于特别是常规脂质体的优势。本综述全面概述了 ethosomal 系统，并评估了其作为有效纳米载体向皮肤输送活性成分的潜力。特别关注 ethosomes 的组成和皮肤渗透机制，以及它们在不同病理学中的潜在应用，特别是皮肤病理学（痤疮、牛皮癣、特应性皮炎、皮肤癌和皮肤感染）。还强调了一些用于治疗皮肤病的基于 Ethosome 的配方的例子。除了需要进一步研究，特别是在人类中，基于乙醇酸的制剂在活性成分的皮肤递送方面具有很大的前景，这越来越多地证明自己是口服途径的可行替代方案。