The lipid arrangement of stratum corneum (SC) was investigated by water absorption in conjunction with small-angle neutron scattering (SANS). The SANS spectra are in reasonable agreement with previous SAXS measurements, ln the lower Q region, however, there is an indication of the presence of a lipid phase with a periodicity of 32.2 nm. The position of the shoulder does not change upon hydration indicating that no swelling occurs. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.