- dimethicone
- A silicone oil consisting of dimethylsiloxane polymers, usually incorporated into a petrolatum base or a nongreasy preparation and used for the protection of normal skin against various, chiefly industrial, skin irritants; may also be used to prevent diaper dermatitis.
* * *
* * *
di·meth·i·cone (di-methґĭ-kōn) 1. a silicone oil, chemically polydimethylsiloxane, occurring in varying degrees of polymerization, with viscosities from 0.65 to 3,000,000 centistokes at 25°C. The term is used with a numeric suffix which indicates the approximate viscosity of the various grades in centistokes, e.g., the viscosity of dimethicone 200 in centistokes is 190 to 210. Dimethicones are used as ingredients of ointments and other preparations for topical application to protect the skin against water-soluble irritants. 2. occasionally, the mixture of dimethicone with silicon dioxide, more properly called simethicone.
Medical dictionary. 2011.
