Defatting (medical)

Defatting (medical)
Defatting (medical)
	Prolonged defatting of the skin can lead to dermatitis. Here the hands and wrists of a worker display chronic dermatitis resulting from long term exposure to kerosene.
Specialty	Dermatology

Defatting is the chemical dissolving of dermal lipids, from the skin, on contact with defatting agents. This can result in water loss from the affected area and cause the whitening and drying of the skin which may result in cracking, secondary infection and chemical irritant contact dermatitis.^[1]

Cause

Defatting is caused by the exposure of human skin to a chemical substance, including alcohols, detergents, chemical solvents and motor oil. Aliphatic compounds (commonly found in kerosene) cause defatting action, with lower-boiling point aliphatics having the greatest defatting action and therefore the most potential to cause dermatitis. Aromatic compounds, such as styrene, also have a defatting capacity.^[1]

Prevention

Defatting can be prevented by wearing appropriate protective clothing such as gloves, lab coats and aprons when working regularly with defatting agents. Prolonged skin contact or chronic defatting of the skin increases the possibility of developing irritant contact dermatitis and has the potential to worsen pre-existing skin conditions. Patients with chronic dermatitis are advised to use non-irritating soaps and dishwashing liquids sparingly and to choose those with a neutral pH and minimal defatting capability.^[2]

References

^ ^a ^b Sullivan, John Burke; Krieger, Gary R. (2001), Clinical environmental health and toxic exposures (2 ed.), Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, pp. 189–190, ISBN 978-0-683-08027-8
^ Leung, Donald Y. M.; Greaves, Malcolm W. (2000), Allergic skin disease: a multidisciplinary approach, Informa Health Care, p. 498, ISBN 978-0-8247-0287-8

[clinicalenvironmental-1] Sullivan, John Burke; Krieger, Gary R. (2001), Clinical environmental health and toxic exposures (2 ed.), Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, pp. 189–190, ISBN 978-0-683-08027-8

[2] Leung, Donald Y. M.; Greaves, Malcolm W. (2000), Allergic skin disease: a multidisciplinary approach, Informa Health Care, p. 498, ISBN 978-0-8247-0287-8

[1]

[2]

v t e Dermatitis and eczema
Atopic dermatitis	Prurigo gestationis Sweat allergy
Seborrheic dermatitis	Pityriasis simplex capillitii Cradle cap
Contact dermatitis (allergic, irritant)	plants: Urushiol-induced contact dermatitis African blackwood dermatitis Tulip fingers other: Abietic acid dermatitis Diaper rash Airbag dermatitis Baboon syndrome Contact stomatitis Metal allergy Protein contact dermatitis
Eczema	Autoimmune estrogen dermatitis Autoimmune progesterone dermatitis Breast eczema Ear eczema Eyelid dermatitis Topical steroid withdrawal Hand eczema Dyshidrosis Hyperkeratotic hand dermatitis Autosensitization dermatitis/Id reaction Candidid Dermatophytid Molluscum dermatitis Circumostomy eczema Juvenile plantar dermatosis Nummular eczema Nutritional deficiency eczema Sulzberger–Garbe syndrome Xerotic eczema
Pruritus/Itch/ Prurigo	Lichen simplex chronicus/Prurigo nodularis by location: Pruritus ani Pruritus scroti Pruritus vulvae Scalp pruritus Drug-induced pruritus Hydroxyethyl starch-induced pruritus Senile pruritus Aquagenic pruritus Aquadynia Adult blaschkitis due to liver disease Biliary pruritus Cholestatic pruritus Prion pruritus Prurigo pigmentosa Prurigo simplex Puncta pruritica Uremic pruritus
Other	substances taken internally: Bromoderma Fixed drug reaction Nummular dermatitis Pityriasis alba Papuloerythroderma of Ofuji