REVOLUTIONIZING SKIN THERAPY: HERBAL GEL-BASED DRUG DELIVERY SYSTEMS FOR DERMATOLOGICAL DISORDERS

Herbal medicine has been widely recognised as a safe, economical, and effective approach for the management of various skin disorders due to its therapeutic potential and minimal adverse effects. The skin, being the largest organ of the human body, serves as a protective barrier against environmental hazards and is frequently affected by infections, inflammation, wounds, acne, eczema, and other dermatological conditions. Herbal formulations have gained considerable attention in topical drug delivery because of the presence of bioactive phytochemicals with antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and wound-healing properties. Among the various topical dosage forms, gels are preferred owing to their non-greasy nature, ease of application, better patient compliance, enhanced drug release, and cooling effect. This review provides a comprehensive overview of herbal medicine in dermatological applications, including the anatomy and physiological functions of the skin, common skin disorders, and the significance of topical gel formulations. The article discusses the concept of gels, their advantages, and classification based on the number of phases, colloidal systems, hydrogel types, and rheological behavior. Furthermore, it highlights the therapeutic importance of medicinal plants commonly used for treating skin diseases and summarizes the pharmacological activities of selected herbal drugs employed in topical formulations. In addition, the review presents an overview of commercially available polyherbal gel formulations and their applications in managing various skin conditions. The compiled information emphasizes the growing importance of herbal gels as promising alternatives to conventional topical therapies. The review concludes that polyherbal gel formulations offer synergistic therapeutic benefits, improved patient acceptability, and significant potential for future research and development in the field of herbal dermatological drug delivery.