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Beyond Gentle Cleansing for Sensitive Skin

Skin that is easily irritated may signify that the barrier function and skin pH are impaired. This can result from either internal factors like age or external factors like soaps and detergents that alter the skin’s pH and strip its essential lipids. Read on to learn how you can strengthen your skin’s protective barrier and it acidic pH level.

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The Skin Barrier in Sensitive Skin

A healthy skin barrier isn’t just a happy coincidence – it takes the right skincare that respects and preserves its healthy skin barrier.

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The skin’s acid mantle, which ranges between pH4-6, plays an important role in maintaining healthy skin barrier function. Apart from preserving the skin’s barrier that repels allergens and bacteria, it also helps to support the production of an enzyme, serine protease, and ceramide, an essential lipid, which are needed to maintain the structure of skin cells.i

The skin has several natural, biological mechanisms that help to maintain its equilibrium. Lactic acid in sweat helps to maintain the acid mantle; after the use of alkaline soaps, the skin releases amino acids that help to restore its optimal, acidic pH level.ii

However, several factors interfere with these mechanisms. These include increased age, loss of moisture in the skin, and low production of sweat and sebum, which raise the skin’s pH, causing the skin to become less acidic. There are also external factors that can disrupt these mechanisms, such as exposure to irritants, and the use of harsh detergents and soaps which are alkaline in nature; these also increase the skin’s pH level. Even brief exposure such as washing with conventional soap and water increases the skin’s pH level to 8 or more, and soap also removes the skin’s natural lipids, leading to a rise in the skin pH.iii iv v

Over time, the lasting effect of one or more of these factors leads to a gradual weakening of the acid mantle. This results in reduced production of ceramide and free fatty acids, allowing bacterial growth and degrading skin cells found in the stratum corneum, compromising its integrity, making it more susceptible to dryness and irritation.vi

Weakening of the skin barrier makes skin more susceptible to dryness and irritation, especially in sensitive skin that is characterised by ceramide deficiency and elevated pH

Dry and sensitive skin, which is characterised by weakening skin barrier due to ceramide deficiencyvii viii and elevated pH levelix of pH6 or higher, can mean the difference between more frequent outbreaks of dry, itchy skin.

A Cleanser That Cleanses and Strengthen the Skin Barrier

Products designed for sensitive skin must respect the skin’s natural lipids and help replenish its lipid content with a 3:1:1 ratio of ceramide, cholesterol and free fatty acids

A study involving 30 individuals with sensitive skin and the comparative use of 17 products found that most cleansing products recommended for sensitive skin have a considerable irritation effect, related either to its pH level or type of cleanser (surfactants) used.xi

To meet the specific needs of sensitive skin, Ceradan® Gentle Cleanser isxii:

Soap-free (non-foaming) cleanser and suitable for use on face and body
Free-from potential irritants like SLS/SLES, parabens, fragrance and colourant.
Beyond cleansing, formulated with ceramide-dominant 3:1:1 ratio of ceramide, cholesterol and free fatty acids to help strengthen the skin barrier
pH-Balanced to maintain the healthy skin pH
Hydrous-gel texture and may be used with or without water
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Conventional Cleansersxiii Ceradan® Gentle Cleanser
✘ Alkaline; raises skin pH √ Soap-free (non-foaming) and pH-balanced; mild enough for face and body and suitable for all ages, including infants
✘ Contains harsh surfactants to remove sebum and lipids, leading to dryness √ Free from potential irritants: SLS/SLES, paraben, colourant and fragrance
✘ Compromises skin’s barrier function and damages the acid mantle √ Strengthen the skin barrier with 3:1:1 ratio of ceramide, cholesterol and free fatty acids

Results may vary.

References:

  1. M Ali S and Yosipovitch G. “Skin pH: From Basic Science to Basic Skin Care”. Acta Derm Venereol 2013; 93: 261–267.
  2. M Ali S and Yosipovitch G. “Skin pH: From Basic Science to Basic Skin Care”. Acta Derm Venereol 2013; 93: 261–267.
  3. Panther DJ, et al. “The Importance of Acidification in Atopic Eczema: An Underexplored Avenue for Treatment” J Clin Med 2015;5:970-978.
  4. Surber C, et al. “The Acid Mantle: A Myth or an Essential Part of Skin Health?” Curr Probl Dermatol 2018;54:1-10.
  5. Lambers H, et al. “Natural skin surface pH Is on average below 5, which is beneficial for its resident flora” Int J Cosmet Sci 2006;28:359-370.
  6. Lee H-J et al. “Epidermal Permeability Barrier Defects and Barrier Repair Therapy in Atopic Dermatitis” Allergy Asthma Immunol Res 2014;6(4):276-287.
  7. Del Rosso J, et al. “Understanding the Epidermal Barrier in Healthy and Compromised Skin: Clinically Relevant Information for the Dermatology Practitioner” J Clin Aesthet Dermatol 2016;9(4 Suppl 1): S2-S8
  8. Stadler J-F, et al. “The emerging role of skin microbiome in atopic dermatitis and its clinical implication” Journal of Dermatological Treatment 2019;30(4):357-364.
  9. M Ali S and Yosipovitch G. “Skin pH: From Basic Science to Basic Skin Care”. Acta Derm Venereol 2013; 93: 261–267.
  10. Baranda L, et al. “Correlation Between pH and Irritant Effect of Cleansers Marketed for Dry Skin” Int J Dermatol 2002 Aug;41(8):494-9. doi: 10.1046/j.1365-4362.2002.01555.x.
  11. Baranda L, et al. “Correlation Between pH and Irritant Effect of Cleansers Marketed for Dry Skin” Int J Dermatol 2002 Aug;41(8):494-9. doi: 10.1046/j.1365-4362.2002.01555.x.
  12. Ceradan Gentle Cleanser. https://www.ceradan.com/product/ceradan-gentle-cleanser/
  13. Ananthapadmanabhan KP, Leyden JJ, and Hawkins SS. Recent Advances in Mild and Moisturizing Cleansers. Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, January 2019, Vol 18 (1), S80-89.

Testimonies

Soothing gel can help calm the skin.

Lennix is super sensitive to mosquito bites not only does it swells up to the size of golf balls but when he scratches it ….
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Joanne

Singapore

Ceradan Hydra moisturiser is able to maintain the hydrated.

Having eczema since I was 2 weeks old at birth, I’ve been on the search for products to keep the eczema under control ….
Read More

Cheryl

Singapore

It’s soap free and safe for all skin types

Honestly though, this 3 are my most used products from @ceradan311sg ? I love using the wash on Shayera & Zayne as ….
Read More

Jane

Singapore

It’s a very gentle and baby-safe product.

We were introduced to Ceradan Skin Barrier Repair Cream by Marc’s paediatric when he started to develop a neck rash from all the sweating, milk and drool ….
Read More

Cheryl

Singapore

It is hypoallergenic and 100% safe for newborn.

My baby is almost 2 months old, for the past weeks, I’ve been overwhelmed by frequent diaper changing and feeding my baby day and night ….
Read More

Adeline

Singapore

Ceramoz will make your life better!

Recommended by a pediatric dermatologist, my 4 YO girl has been using the Ceramoz for more than 2 years now. It is truly the best of both worlds ….
Read More

Alfred

Singapore
  • Lennix is super sensitive to mosquito bites not only does it swells up to the size of golf balls but when he scratches it he gets a bacterial skin infection which either lands him in hospital for IV antibiotics or heavy doses of oral antibiotics.

    So now whenever he gets bitten we immediately apply antiseptic solution and then put a bandaid on it so he wouldn’t be able to scratch.

    However the area around the bite becomes very dry and scabby possibly due to lack of air because we leave the bandaid on until the bite heals? We have been using @ceradan311sg soothing gel to help calm the skin so scratching is minimised to prevent further damage and it’s been working great! We ❤️ it!

  • Having eczema since I was 2 weeks old at birth, I’ve been on the search for products to keep the eczema under control. One thing I found useful before attending this session is that I “drink” moisturisers by the bottle and only came to know Ceradan since Marc was born. What I didn’t know was Ceradan is great for all ages, all skin types, especially dry, sensitive and eczema ones.

    The texture of the Ceradan Hydra moisturiser is very light yet is able to maintain the hydrated feeling for quite a while. And understanding from Dr Lynn that the key issue with eczema skin is to build up the skin’s barrier to minimise inflammation and infection, using a moisturiser with 3:1:1 ceramide dominant ratio is essential.

  • Honestly though, this 3 are my most used products from @ceradan311sg ? I love using the wash on Shayera & Zayne as it puts my mind at ease knowing that it’s soap free and safe for all skin types. As for the diaper cream, I use it on the kids even when there’s no rash to ensure that they’re protected. I used it on myself the other day when I had a minor rash on my hand and it helped! As for Ceramoz, it’s part mosquito repellent and part moisturiser! It’s the kiddos must have when they go over to my in-laws place which is a landed space, so you know how mosquitos love to party inside.?

  • We were introduced to Ceradan Skin Barrier Repair Cream by Marc’s paediatric when he started to develop a neck rash from all the sweating, milk and drool in between his neck folds. And later, when Marc started on his helmet therapy, the orthopaedic suggested using Ceradan Body Wash to help minimise any possibility of heat rashes and keep his skin moisturised.

    Having used Ceradan products on Marc for quite a while now, we do find that it’s a very gentle and baby-safe product. Upon using the Ceradan Skin Barrier Repair Cream, his neck rash was under control very quickly and it’s been very effective even for myself when I have eczema flare ups. Ceradan Regimen, which consists of Ceradan Skin Barrier Repair Cream and Ceradan Body Wash, is suitable for children as young as newborns and it has demonstrated clinically-proven efficacy in a study conducted by KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital and National Skin Centre in Singapore to prevent 1 in 2 eczema flares in Singapore children.

    Since Marc loves swimming, and the chlorine in the water is very drying for the skin, I highly recommend Ceradan Body Wash to cleanse and maintain his gentle baby skin as hydrated as possible.

  • My baby is almost 2 months old, for the past weeks, I’ve been overwhelmed by frequent diaper changing and feeding my baby day and night. ?‍♀️?? Diaper rash is also every mum’s nightmare so choosing the right diaper cream is so important. Ceradan’s diaper cream is clinically proven and also recommended by KK Children & Women’s Hospital.

    It is hypoallergenic and 100% safe for newborn.

    I’m thankful to be able to try out this diaper cream for my baby with its unique triple protective actions◾Zinc oxide to seal out wetness ◾Octenidine to control yeast overgrowth ◾Contains 3:1:1 ratio of ceramic, cholesterol and free fatty acids to repair skin barrier.

    Thanks for keeping my baby’s skin rash-free!

    Ceradan is available at Watsons, Guardian and Unity stores.

  • Recommended by a pediatric dermatologist, my 4 YO girl has been using the Ceramoz for more than 2 years now. It is truly the best of both worlds, being able to moisturise and protect against mosquito bites at the same time!

    One big problem we had to deal with when my girl started childcare was mosquitoes ?. Doesn’t help when she had eczema and very sensitive skin. One bite on her and the bitten site would swell and become inflamed. Mosquito patches don’t work at all, and kid-friendly insect repellents either don’t work so well, or are too “spicy” – imagine the whines when she accidentally rubs her eyes after applying the repellent. When we were initially introduced to Ceramoz, we were a bit doubtful but later glad to learn that my girl don’t get bitten by mosquitoes that often anymore! (Truth he told, she only gets bitten when she forgets to apply it after her shower in childcare). It has proved its use so much that I use it now even during her non school days, 2+ years and counting!

    If you have a school-going child with eczema conditions, delicate skin, or is simply a mosquito magnet, Ceramoz will make your life better!