Dry skin is an important cause of
eczema...
Dry skin is the most
important cause of eczema that starts as itching followed by rash.
Itching in individuals with dry skin may be precipitated by the
following:
- Woolen clothing
- Detergents
- Water (bathing for
long hours)
- Environmental
changes (winter, areas with low humidity)
- Friction (use of
scrub, rough clothing)
- Stress
- Excessive use of
talcum powders
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Preventive Measures:
- Use a mild soap and as little soap as possible
- Bathe with warm
rather than hot water
- Avoid long bathing;
use bath oils during
bathing.
- Apply moisturizers immediately after bathing,
this helps
retain the moisture in the skin.
- Avoid mechanical trauma from rough clothing.
- Use moisturizers with
sun-screens on the exposed parts
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Moisturization can be
achieved by using the products containing the following:
Moisturizers improve the
look and feel of the skin...
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Occlusives:
Occlusives prevent trans-epidermal water loss. Many chemicals act as
occlusives; the most occlusive is petrolatum, others are vegetable and
animal fats, silicon oils, vegetable waxes and phospholipids.
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Humectents: Humectents
draw water from environment and deeper tissues to rehydrate the horny
layer. They may also allow the skin to feel smooth by filling the holes.
Glycerin, honey, urea, propylene glycol are examples of humectents
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Emolients: Emolients
function by filling the spaces between the desquamating skin scales
and provide a smooth feel to the skin.
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Hydrophilic matrices:
Hydrophilic matrices provide blanket against water evaporation.
Hyaluronic acid is an example.
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Sunscreens: Sun screens
prevent cellular damage and prevent dehydration. Many of the repair and replenishing
moisturizing formulations contain sunscreens.
Selection of
moisturizers based on body sites and skin type:
Ideal moisturizer is a
combination of an occlusive, a humectent and an emolient. Selection of
moisturizer should be done on the basis of the site of application, type
of the skin and acceptance.
Facial moisturizers
should be chosen correctly depending on the skin type. With proper use of facial
moisturizers, fine wrinkling due to skin dehydration and roughness due
to skin scales can be improved.
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Oily skin moisturizers
contain water and silicon derivatives such as
cyclomethicone or dimethicone.
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'Oil control'
moisturizers contain oil
absorbing substances such as talc, clay or starch and methacrylate.
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Normal or combination
skin moisturizers contain predominantly water, mineral oil and propylene
glycol with very small amounts of petrolatum or lanolin.
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Anti-wrinkle
moisturizers contain sun-screen agents and alpha hydroxy acids
in addition.
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Dry skin
moisturizers contain water, mineral oil, propylene glycol and larger
amounts of petrolatum and lanolin.
Choose moisturizers with
care...
Body moisturizers
should be non-greasy and easily spreadable. Lotions are preferable.
Creams and ointments are preferred in extreme cases of dryness.
Hand moisturizers –
simplest is petrolatum jelly. Those with silicon derivatives can render
the hand-cream water resistant.
Proper moisturizer
selection can aid in the treatment of disease, whereas poorly formulated,
poorly selected products can initiate the disease process. |
