Physiological Functions of the Surface of the Skin

Abstract

The so called dermal fat of the skin surface is on principle a mixture consisting of fat and water, of ether- soluble and watersoluble portions, that are derived from the horny layer and the keratinization as well as from sebum and sweat secretion. This mixture has the form of an emulsion. There is the possibility of the O-W emulsion and the W-0 emulsion on principle. An W/0-emulsion participates decisively in the regulation of water and heat balance of the skin. Therefore the water balance and the regulation of heat can be influenced by changes of, the emulsion film by means of dermatological externals, used in the local treatment. The control of the physicochemical properties- for instance the wettability and the spreading-reveals also in the case of an external -homogenous emulsion film-as an example: W/O emulsion on the non-evident sweating skin-topographical and individual specialities. These specialities can be reproduced in such a regularity, that you are inclined to regard these individual specialities as fixed within the type; this is done by the, clinical usage with the type of the seborrhoeic, and the sebostatic.