There are different ways to get skin URL in Magento given below.
1) You can get the Base Skin Url in magento with the following syntax:
Syntax : Mage::getBaseUrl(Mage_Core_Model_Store::URL_TYPE_SKIN);
2) You can get the Unsecure Skin Url in magento with the following syntax:
$this->getSkinUrl(‘images/imageName.jpg’);
3) You can get the Secure Skin Url in magento with the following syntax:
$this->getSkinUrl(‘images/imageName.gif’, array(‘_secure’=>true));