[Sandy]

http://personalcaretruth.com/2010/07/getting-under-your-skin/

[carrie]

it's water soluble so can be absorbed. ointment stays on the surface.
it's along time since i was in a learning establishment!

[Jackie]

As Carrie has said its water soluble.

The skin has 7 layers to repell substances that could be harmfull but it does allow a certain amount of water to be absorbed, try sitting in a bath for a long time and see the wrinkled skin on fingers and toes, thats the water expanding the skin. 

[Sandy]

I posted the link to an article my daughter has written, she is a mind of knowledge particuly in cosmetic science and I found the article facinating.....she is on the vberge of releasing a book that covers cosmetic issues and life, I have only read a tiny bit but it certainly moved me 

On a seperate but connected thread, all the hot flushes I experience have messed up my skin, I get lumps and bumps and open pores now.....I would love to end them as they ruin a lot of things for me and wake me up at night...I wonder if any skin creams help?