Ethanol perturbs lipid organization in models of stratum corneum membranes: An investigation combining differential scanning calorimetry, infrared and 2H NMR spectroscopy

► We studied the effect of ethanol on the behavior of stratum corneum model membranes. ► Ethanol is found to influence the membrane in a dose dependent manner. ► Ethanol disrupts lipid packing and fluidizes the lipid matrix. ► Ethanol selectively extracts the free fatty acid component from the ensemble.