Vol. 7, Issue 2, Part C (2025)

Eczema, also known as atopic dermatitis (AD), is a persistent, recurrent, and itchy inflammatory skin condition that affects a large portion of the population, particularly children. Conventional therapies such as topical corticosteroids are widely used but are associated with side effects like skin thinning, visible blood vessels, and systemic absorption after long-term use [1]. These drawbacks can reduce patient adherence and raise safety concerns, thereby necessitating alternative, safer, and more tolerable treatment approaches. Herbal medicines, due to their anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, immune-modulating, and antioxidant effects, have emerged as promising options. Pelargonium graveolens L'Hér. (Geranium) extract is recognized for its wound-healing and anti-inflammatory activities but faces limitations such as poor solubility, low skin permeability, and high volatility. Transdermal drug delivery systems (TDDS), particularly matrix-type patches, provide an effective method for controlled release, improved bioavailability, avoidance of first-pass metabolism, and better patient compliance [3]. This review summarizes the formulation and evaluation of a novel transdermal patch containing geranium extract for eczema management. The patch, produced via solvent evaporation, utilized a combination of hydrophilic (HPMC E5) and pH-sensitive (Eudragit L100) polymers to optimize its performance. Pre-formulation assessments such as solubility, FTIR, and UV spectroscopy confirmed extract integrity and compatibility with excipients. The optimized patch (F19) exhibited uniformity, skin-friendly pH (5.23), high drug content (96.25%), strong mechanical properties, and a sustained drug release over 24 hours, best described by the Higuchi diffusion model. This work concludes that the formulated geranium extract-loaded transdermal patch presents a promising herbal alternative for long-term eczema treatment, offering benefits over both steroidal therapies and crude herbal applications [1-14].