Health Dictionary
Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.
Keratolytic
Introduction
Keratolytic (Template:IPAEng) therapy is treatment to remove warts and other lesions in which the epidermis produces excess skin. In this therapy, acid medicine, such as salicylic acid is put on the lesion. Keratolytic therapy thins the skin on and around the lesion. The medicine causes the outer layer of the skin to get loose and shed.
See also
Treating Dry Skin: Keratolytics can also be used to soften keratin, a major component of the skin. This serves to improve the skin’s moisture binding capacity. Such agents (keratolytics) include urea, lactic acid, and allantoin.
Treating Dandruff: While cytostatic agents such as Zinc Pyrithione, found in Head and Shoulders are first line, keratolytics (salicylic acid and sulfur)can also be used.
Treating Cradle Cap: Use mild keratolytics: Meted (tradename) and Sebulex (tradename) Both of these drugs are combinations of salicylic acid and sulfur.
Treating Acne: Sulfur (SAStid soap = trade name) and salicylic acid (Stridex =trade name) can be used to treat acne; however, sulfur products sometimes can make acne worse. Rosorcinol is another keratolytic that is usually combined with sulfur.
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]