Moisturising Dry & Eczema-Prone Skin

Dry skin is very delicate and needs a bit of extra TLC when applying your moisturising lotion, cream or ointment. But first, to understand why and how to moisturise with care, we need to understand what causes eczema and dry scaly skin.

Dry skin on the body is caused when there aren’t enough natural oils on the outer layer of the skin to protect from irritants and stop water from escaping.

When moisture evaporates it leads to dehydrated skin cells and less plump, rough, tight and flaky skin. Very dry skin can become sore, red and even cracked and weeping.

Switch to emollient only

Emollient is really just a fancy word for saying medical moisturiser and you’ll find them at your pharmacist over the counter. So, what we mean here is that you should substitute all the products you normally use on your skin for emollients – that includes switching your regular soaps and shower gels for a cleansing cream which gently washes and hydrates at the same time.

A lot and often

Forget a little and often, with dry skin and eczema you want to apply moisturiser generously at least twice a day, if not three or four times. Slather on a thick layer first thing in the morning, after a shower, when the skin is still damp to trap extra moisture. The cream will be visible at first and tacky but wait a few minutes and it will absorb into the skin.

Resist temptation

The itching of dry skin and eczema can be unbearable at times, but it’s critical that you resist at all times especially when treating eczema! The more you scratch, the more the skin becomes irritated and then the more it itches. It’s a vicious cycle! Consider wrapping severely dry skin or eczema in bandages to help reduce temptation and try wearing gloves to protect hand eczema.

With thick creams and ointments, it can be tempting to rub them in vigorously so you can quickly get dressed and get on with your day. But vigorous or continuous rubbing can damage fragile skin and aggravate itching! Instead, use a smooth gentle motion to glide on the moisturiser, moving in the direction that the hair grows.

Keep it clean

It almost goes without saying, but you should touch your problem skin as little as possible while it is healing. When you need to touch it, for example to apply your moisturiser, always make sure your hands are clean to reduce the risk of infection.

Keep it up

To prevent future flare-ups of dry skin or eczema it’s a good idea to keep applying emollients twice daily. This provides added hydration and protection for the skin, helping prevent irritation.

Avoid open flames

It’s not a good idea to stand close to open fires anyway but be extra cautious when using emollients as their ingredients can be flammable. To reduce the risk, wash your clothes regularly to avoid build-up.

Above all be patient and persistent. Regular use of emollients is one of the most important steps you can take in your treatment of eczema and dry skin. If you’re unsure which emollient is right for you, click here for an introduction to different moisturisers, from the best ointment for eczema to different types of eczema treatment cream.

The full Cetraben range can be found in Boots, LloydsPharmacy and Tesco stores nationwide.