DIMETHICONE AND OTHER SILICONES ARE WATER REPELLENT AND HAVE A LOW SURFACE TENSION. THEY ARE USED IN TOPICAL BARRIER PREPARATIONS FOR PROTECTING THE SKIN AGAINST WATER SOLUBLE IRRITANTS. CREAM, LOTION, AND OINTMENTS CONTAINING A DIMETHICONE ARE EMPLOYED FOR THE PREVENTION OF NAPPY RASH AND BED SORES AND TO PROTECT SKIN AGAINST TRAUMA DUE TO INCONTENENCE OR STOMA DISCHARGE. SILICONES HAVE BEEN USED FOR ARTHROPLASTY IN RHEUMATIC DISORDERS, BY INTRAVITREAL INJECTION FOR RETINAL DETACHMENT AND BY SUBCUTANEOUS INJECTION OR IMPLANTATION IN RECONSTRUCTIVE OR COSMATIC SURGERY.