.
.
Many fail to realize just how important it is to moisturize. If you struggle with atopic dermatitis, Eczema, Psoriasis or Ichthyosis and you’re not seeing results with your current skincare routine, you may be using the wrong moisturizer.
The PDS (Philippine dermatology Society) came to the consensus that moisturizes are actually the first line of treatment for any dry skin issue. It alleviates a large portion of symptoms of defective epidermal barrier, including but not limited to the redness and itchiness….. provided you are using the right moisturizer. So what should you look for? Let me break it down for you.
There are 4 types of moisturizers:
Emollients: fill in the gaps between dead skin cells with missing lipids, thus smoothing and softening your skin. Ex: Ceramide, Colloidal oatmeal (emollient + humectant + PEDs), Petrolatum, lactic acid (emollient and humectant), Isopropyl Palmitate
Humectants: attract and retain water deep in your skin so it not only hydrates the surface, but the dermis as well. Ex: Urea, Shea butter, Beta Glucan, Sodium PCA
Occlusives: prevent water from evaporating by forming a barrier on your skin, this prevents trans epidermal water loss (TEWL). Ex: Petrolatum, petroleum jelly,
Prescription emollient devices (PEDs): (eg avenanthramides) are relatively new and have anti-inflammatory properties. However these tend to be expensive so using a separate anti-inflammatory product on the side may help. A good moisturizer may also reduce erythema, so depending on the severity of your skin condition, you may not need an anti-inflammatory.
Most OTC products only contain 1 type, which is why most find their moisturizer ineffective. In order to get the most out of your moisturizer it is important to look for one that has at least 3, if not 4 of these qualities. Additionally, the more ingredients have dual purpose, the more complex and effective the formula will be. For example, colloidal oatmeal serves ¾ of these roles and adding an ingredient like lactic acid and petrolatum will increase its efficacy.
So the next time you go to your derma or are shopping for skincare, try and look for these ingredients.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
