Nanocosmeceutical innovations for chronic inflammatory skin disorders: bridging therapeutic efficacy, barrier restoration, and cosmetic outcomes

Chronic inflammatory skin disorders, including psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, and rosacea, are characterized by immune dysregulation, oxidative stress, and epidermal barrier dysfunction, resulting in persistent inflammation and visible cosmetic impairment. Conventional therapies often suffer from limited skin penetration, poor drug retention, and adverse effects, thereby restricting long-term efficacy and patient adherence. Nanocosmeceuticals, integrating nanotechnology with therapeutic and bioactive cosmetic agents, have emerged as a promising strategy to overcome these limitations. Nanocarrier systems such as liposomes, solid lipid nanoparticles, nanostructured lipid carriers, nanoemulsions, and polymeric nanoparticles enable enhanced dermal delivery, controlled release, and targeted interaction with skin cells. These systems modulate inflammatory pathways, reduce oxidative stress, and restore barrier integrity while improving hydration, pigmentation, and skin texture. Recent studies report 2-5-fold enhanced skin deposition and sustained release over 24-72 h, along with significant reductions in transepidermal water loss and inflammatory markers. Despite these advantages, challenges related to long-term safety, regulatory complexity, and limited large-scale clinical validation persist. This review provides a critical analysis of nanocarrier-based strategies, emphasizing mechanistic insights, comparative performance of delivery systems, therapeutic and cosmetic outcomes, and clinical translation. Emerging trends, including personalized nanomedicine, multifunctional hybrid systems, and sustainable materials, are also discussed to highlight future directions in dermatological therapy.