Next-Generation Emollient Therapy
Next-Generation Emollient Therapy
Eczema-prone skin is a skin condition that is both dry and sensitive.R1, R2
Dry skin that is triggered by external factors (such as weather or allergens) may possibly be eczema-prone and can present with inflamed, itchy skin that is also dry and rough.R3
Children are mostly affected by eczema-prone skin affecting both them and their parents/caregivers. The most often negative experienced effect is poor sleep quality/sleeplessness due to itching. The constant scratching can leave the skin either raw and inflamed, or scarred posing as emotional and psychological stresses to children.R4, R5 Seeing and dealing with their children’s negative experiences can in turn lead parents/caregivers to:R4
Image 1: Eczema-prone skin can be dry and itchy with patches, have thickened, cracked and scaly skin, and have small raised bumps. It may have a raw and swollen appearance.
Feel exhausted
Develop feelings of hopelessness and anger
Create a financial burden due to missed work and medical costs
The disruption caused by this condition makes managing it well is fundamental in bringing back a better quality of life.
Ceramide deficiency in eczema-prone skin leads to an increased loss of skin moisture (dryness) and a disruption in the skin’s natural barrier function (sensitivity).R6, R7
The solution for eczema-prone skin is to restore hydration to the skin but more importantly rebuilding and maintaining the skin’s barrier.
This can be achieved by: R8-R11
- Avoiding triggers
- Reducing inflammation
- Educating yourself on the condition
- Maintaining an optimal skin barrier
Do you know?
The mainstay management of eczema-prone skin is to ensure the use of proper bathing/washing and Moisturising products
The treatment of eczema-prone skin should ideally be managed by a healthcare professional. Treatment is done in a “step-up” manner depending on the conditions’ severity and may involve prescriptive medications such as topical corticosteroids and oral medications (in severe cases).R12
However, the mainstay of treatment that forms the foundation of all levels of severity affecting eczema-prone skin is using proper bathing/washing and moisturising products.R12 The use of the correct products helps to support managing symptoms but should be continued to maintain the skin’s condition on recovery.
Washing
The ideal product formulation for maintaining an optimal skin barrier in eczema-prone skin should be:R8, R10, R11, R13
- Non-soap, mild and non-fat stripping
- Emollient bath oils or soap-substitute cleansers
Moisturising
Emollients are the most highly recommended moisturiser to use in eczema-prone skin conditions.R8-R11
It is best to moisturise immediately after washing/bathing.
Why?
Most soaps are alkaline in nature and can increase the skin’s pH, which in turn aggravates the already altered skin pH in those who are eczema-prone. Regular soaps also strip off the protective lipids.R13
Do you know? The skin’s normal pH is slightly acidic ranging from 4-6
Emollients have properties that help reduce symptoms of eczema-prone skin especially that of dryness, itchiness and scratching.R8
These include:
- Increasing the skin’s moisture content
- Increasing the skin’s moisture-retaining capacity
There is however, one thing lacking in regular emollient-based products.
Emollients help in maintaining hydration of the skin and preventing dryness associated with eczema-prone skin.
The ideal emollient-based product not only addresses the lack of hydration but should also help restore the lack of ceramide and normalise the skin’s pH (to its acidic state).R14
To address the lack of ceramides, newer emollient-based skin products for eczema-prone skin have included this essential lipid into their formulations.
“Ceramide-dominant lipid-based” products essentially replaces missing ceramides in eczema-prone skin. This leads to:
- Reduction of inflammation
- Restoration and repair of the skin’s natural barrier
Ceradan© range from ceramide-dominant lipid-based products offer optimal care for eczema-prone skin and other dry and sensitive skin conditions.
Ceradan® Moisturising Wash
- Contains 3:1:1 ceramide-dominant lipid-based formulation.
- It is gentle, soap-free and fragrance-free.
- Suitable for eczema-prone, dry or sensitive skin types.
- Suitable for all ages.
Ceradan® Advanced Cream
- Contains 3:1:1 ceramide-dominant lipid-based formulation.
- Restores the skin’s protective barrier.
- Suitable for eczema-prone, dry or sensitive skin types.
- Suitable for all ages.
Ceradan® Skin Barrier Repair Cream
- Contains 3:1:1 ceramide-dominant lipid-based formulation.
- Restores the skin’s protective barrier.
- Suitable for eczema-prone, dry or sensitive skin types.
- Suitable for all ages.
Ceradan® Soothing Gel
- For rapid itch relief in eczema-prone skin conditions.
- Dual action of methol that provides cooling sensation and polidocanol for itch relief.
- Hypoallergenic
Ceradan® Hydra Moisturiser
- Contains 3:1:1 ceramide-dominant lipid-based formulation.
- It is a light-textured hydrating moisturizer for easy application.
- Also contains hyaluronate to boost skin hydration and retain moisture.
- Suitable for eczema-prone, dry or sensitive skin types.
- Suitable for all ages.
