A Laboratory Evaluation of Silicone Skin-Protective Preparations

Shortly after the introduction of the silicone compounds, it became apparent that their versatile properties suggested a wide range of usage including the field of dermatology. The prime stimulus for this recognition occurred because of the water repellency of the silicones. Of no less importance, however, was their inherent chemical inertness upon the skin. 1 In 1951, Talbot, MacGregor, and Crowe 2 reported that a commercial therapeutic petrolatum base preparation containing 30% silicone oils was effective in the management of 58 out of 61 dermatologic conditions in which protection from moisture was indicated. Since this initial report, several other commercial preparations containing silicone fluids have become available for use as skin protectives. Recently, clinical and laboratory evaluations have been reported for three of these preparations. * In general, these reports have stressed one silicone ointment preparation and compared it with one or two other