ABSTRACT
Emollients play a central role in topical treatments in dermatology, with their protective and curative effects being of renewed interest. Different therapeutic functions of dermatological emollients are well recognized, and a review of such has recently been published [1]. Research has shown that the composition of emollients is of great importance for disease treatment. For example, the more chronic the cutaneous disease is regarded, the higher the emollient lipid content should be, as treatment efficacy is improved with the use of adequate emollients. However, the specific role of emollients in drug delivery systems for different skin diseases has not yet been studied in detail. In this chapter a number of features of emollients will be presented, including emollient composition, classification, and role in therapeutics; potential mechanisms of emollient function; and the role(s) of emollients in epidermal barrier function and specific diseases. Recent studies have shown that the use of an appropriate emollient for the treatment of specific
skin disorders can have a significant impact on both the clinical outcome of treatment and, more importantly, on the relapse-free period. The chosen emollient should no longer be regarded simply as a drug carrier, vehicle, or delivery system, but rather as an essential component of successful topical treatment. Thus, it may be of importance to adapt the type and composition of emollients either as adjuvant treatment or as the delivery system, according to the disease status.
