Editing Keratolytic

{{Short description|Type of medicine which removes warts}}
{{Refimprove|date=May 2013}}

'''Keratolytic''' ({{IPAc-en|ˌ|k|ɛr|ə|t|oʊ|ˈ|l|ɪ|t|ɪ|k}}{{refn|{{MerriamWebsterDictionary|access-date=2016-01-22|Keratolytic}}}}{{refn|{{Dictionary.com|access-date=2016-01-22|Keratolytic}}}}) therapy is a type of medical treatment to remove [[wart]]s, [[callus]]es and other lesions in which the [[Epidermis (skin)|epidermis]] produces excess skin. In this therapy, [[acid|acidic]] topical medicines, such as [[Whitfield's ointment]] or [[Jessner's solution]], are applied to the lesion in order to thin the [[skin]] on and around it. This therapy causes the outer layer of the skin to loosen and shed.<ref>{{cite web|last=Dorland|title=The Definition of Keratolytic|url=http://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/keratolytic|publisher=Elsevier|access-date=8 August 2012|archive-date=22 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180922173811/https://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/keratolytic|url-status=live}}</ref>

Keratolytics can also be used to soften [[keratin]], a major component of the skin.  This serves to improve the skin's moisture binding capacity, which is beneficial in the treatment of dry skin. Such agents (keratolytics) include [[alkali]]s (by [[swelling (medical)|swelling]] and [[hydrolysis]] of skin), [[salicylic acid]], [[urea]], [[lactic acid]], [[allantoin]], [[glycolic acid]], and [[trichloroacetic acid]].<ref name=About.com>{{cite web|last=Goodless|first=Dean|title=Keratolytic medications for skin scales and flakes|url=http://psoriasis.about.com/od/treatingityourself/qt/keratolytics.htm|publisher=About.com|access-date=8 August 2012|archive-date=4 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304212003/http://psoriasis.about.com/od/treatingityourself/qt/keratolytics.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref>

While [[cytostatic]] agents such as [[zinc pyrithione]] are first line, keratolytics ([[salicylic acid]] and [[sulfur (pharmacy)|sulfur]]) can also be used in the treatment of [[dandruff]] and [[seborrheic dermatitis]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=PubChem|title=Pyrithione zinc|url=https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/3005837|access-date=2021-05-14|website=pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov|language=en|archive-date=2021-05-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210514210719/https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/3005837|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Zinc pyrithione|url=https://www.acs.org/content/acs/en/molecule-of-the-week/archive/z/zinc-pyrithione.html|access-date=2021-05-14|website=American Chemical Society|language=en|archive-date=2021-03-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210301232215/https://www.acs.org/content/acs/en/molecule-of-the-week/archive/z/zinc-pyrithione.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

Sulfur and salicylic acid can also be used to effectively treat [[acne]] and [[cradle cap]] in some patients. [[Resorcinol]] is another keratolytic that is usually combined with sulfur.<ref name=About.com/> [[Urea]] acts as a keratolytic due to its [[hygroscopic]] property.

==See also==
* [[Treatment of warts by keratolysis]]
* [[Chemical peel]]
* [[Dithranol]]
* [[Retinoid]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Acne agents}}
{{Other dermatological preparations}}

[[Category:Skin care]]