Emollient
Encyclopedia : E : EM : EMO : Emollient
Emollients are substances which soften and soothe the skin. They are used to correct dryness and scaling of the skin.
The terms 'moisturizer' (to add moisture) and 'emollient' (to soften) are sometimes used interchangeably, as they describe different effects of these agents on the skin. However, the term emollient is most often used to describe single ingredients, whereas 'mosturizer' describes finished products.
Mechanism of action
Emollients have three basic actions:- Occlusion - providing a layer of oil on the surface of the skin to slow water loss and thus increase the moisture content of the stratum corneum.
- Humectant - increasing the water-holding capacity of the stratum corneum.
- Lubrication - adding slip or glide across the skin.
See also
External links
- http://www.dermnetnz.org/dna.emoll/emoll.html
From Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Original article here. Support Wikipedia by contributing or donating.
All text is available under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License See Wikipedia Copyrights for details.