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Edible oil methods to remove asphalt on burns
Emi Yamazaki1, Kosuke Shido1, Kenshi Yamasaki1
1Department of Dermatology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Miyagi, Japan.
The Journal of Dermatology
|August 7, 2018
Summary
Edible oils like butter and vegetable oil effectively remove asphalt from skin. This safe, affordable, and readily available method offers a faster solution than traditional medicines for asphalt burns.
Area of Science:
- Dermatology
- Emergency Medicine
- Materials Science
Background:
- Asphalt (bitumen) is a petroleum byproduct that adheres strongly to skin when hot.
- Hot asphalt splashes cause rare but challenging skin burns due to difficult removal.
- Current consensus on initial asphalt removal from skin is lacking.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review and summarize methods for removing adherent asphalt from skin.
- To evaluate the efficacy and safety of different asphalt removal agents.
- To identify optimal initial treatment strategies for asphalt skin burns.
Main Methods:
- Systematic review of articles on asphalt burns and removal techniques.
- Analysis of 127 reported cases involving asphalt removal from skin.
- Classification of removal agents into medicines, healthcare products, foods, and solvents.
- Inclusion of a case study demonstrating edible oil use.
Main Results:
- Historically, topical antimicrobial medicines were used but required over 12 hours for asphalt removal.
- Edible oils (butter, vegetable oil) and mineral oils emulsify and remove asphalt within hours.
- Edible oils are effective, safe, readily available, and cost-efficient for asphalt removal.
- Classified agents: (i) medicines, (ii) health-care products, (iii) foods, (iv) solvents.
Conclusions:
- Edible oils represent a superior first-line approach for removing adherent asphalt from skin.
- The efficacy, safety, availability, and cost-effectiveness of edible oils support their use.
- Further research may validate edible oils as a standard treatment for asphalt burns.
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