Jansen1 first developed carboxymethylcellulose in Germany in 1918 as a substitute for gelatin, glue, agar-agar, tragacanth and similar substances. Carboxymethylcellulose is used chiefly in industry in the form of its sodium salt. Sodium carboxymethylcellulose is indicated whenever hydrophilic colloids having suspending, stabilizing, film-forming and thickening properties are needed.
Brown and Houghton2 stated that sodium carboxymethylcellulose can be used as an emulsifying agent and whenever a protective colloid is required in oil in water emulsions. According to these authors, it is nontoxic.
About a year ago I became interested in the possibility of using carboxymethylcellulose in dermatology, particularly in lotions when oil in water emulsions are needed. After many trials, I compounded a lotion consisting of the following formula in aqueous solution: sodium carboxymethylcellulose, 0.75 per cent; non-aethylene glycol monolaurate, 1 per cent, and triethanolamine, 1 per cent.1a In this formula the carboxymethylcellulose acts as a film-forming agent