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Emollients: Effects, Evidence, and Side Effects

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Kanerva’s Occupational Dermatology

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Abstract

Emollients are traditionally used in all kind of skin diseases involving epidermal pathology and barrier dysfunction. In occupational settings, emollients are used both for treatment and prevention of skin disease. Emollients may also be used for cosmetic purposes, to avoid the look of dry skin. Although emollients are very widely used, and recommended by physicians, evidence for efficacy is sparse. In Europe, regulation of emollients is under the directive of cosmetics (Directive 76/768/EEC). More specific knowledge is needed concerning effects of different ingredients in the products. A future goal is that emollients may be more specifically designed for certain exposures and occupations and that randomized studies should be undertaken to confirm the effect of use.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Dermatology, Bispebjerg Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, NV, Denmark

    Tove Agner & Jakob Mutanu Jungersted

Authors
  1. Tove Agner
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  2. Jakob Mutanu Jungersted
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Correspondence to Tove Agner .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Dermatology, University of Osnabrück, Osnabrück, Niedersachsen, Germany

    Swen Malte John

  2. Department of Dermato-allergology, Gentofte Hospital, Hellerup, Denmark

    Jeanne Duus Johansen

  3. Dept. of Dermatology and Allergology, VU University Medical Centre, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    Thomas Rustemeyer

  4. Dept. of Dermatology and Allergology, Friedrich Schiller University, Jena, Thüringen, Germany

    Peter Elsner

  5. Department of Dermatology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA

    Howard I. Maibach

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Agner, T., Jungersted, J.M. (2018). Emollients: Effects, Evidence, and Side Effects. In: John, S., Johansen, J., Rustemeyer, T., Elsner, P., Maibach, H. (eds) Kanerva’s Occupational Dermatology. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-40221-5_94-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-40221-5_94-2

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-40221-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-40221-5

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