  The outermost layer of skin, the stratum corneum (SC), comprises rigid
corneocytes in a layered lipid matrix. Using atomistic simulations we find that
the equilibrium phase of the SC lipids is inverse micellar. A model of the
corneocyte is used to demonstrate that lamellar layering is induced by the
patterned corneocyte wall. The inverse micellar phase is consistent with in
vivo observations in the lacunar spaces and at the stratum granulosum - SC
boundary region, and suggests a functional role in the lipid synthesis pathway
in vivo.
