The information below is provided as a guide. Always discuss your treatment options with your GP or health care professional (HCP).
SKIN HEALTH
These types of preparations are directly applied to the skin. Medical moisturisers are different from cosmetic moisturisers in that they are unperfumed.
Moisturisers come in different formulations, like ointments, creams, lotions, gels and sprays.
At first it may be difficult to know which one to choose because there is so much choice.
Finding the right moisturiser for you is important. If you like your moisturiser, you are more likely to use it.
Find out more about the Hydromol range including ointment, cream, bath & intensive formulations by clicking here.
Irritants and allergens can get through the skin causing water loss and decreasing the skin’s natural moisturising factor (NMF). This is what gives us dry, itchy skin.
Using a moisturiser will restore your skin’s health. Moisturiser may also have an antipruritic (anti-itch) and anti inflammatory (reduces the redness) effect.
Find out more how Hydromol Cream can help you maintain your NMF by clicking here.
Apply moisturiser to the whole skin, not just any dry areas.
The average amount of moisturiser you will need per week is about 500 grams for an adult, 250 grams for a child and 125 grams for an infant.
Find out more about the Hydromol range for day and night treatments by clicking here.
On the downside, ointments tend to be too greasy to wear under clothing. Therefore, they are most useful at night when you can put on a pair of pyjamas or an old tracksuit and let the ointments soak in.
If the ointments are not water soluble, they may leave grease marks on your furniture or clothes. They are most useful on very dry areas of your skin and not practical if your eczema is weeping or wet. Ointments don’t contain any preservatives.
If your ointment is in a tub, avoid contamination by scooping it out with a spoon instead of your fingers. Opt for ointment in a tube to further reduce the risk of contamination.
Find out more about Hydromol Ointment by clicking here.
Some cream preparations are occlusive, which means they sit on the skin as a protective barrier to hold in moisture. Whereas there are others that contain humectants, such as Sodium PCA, which provide additional hydrating power by drawing moisture into the cells.
Find out more about Hydromol Cream by clicking here.
Gel preparations have consistency between an oil and a cream. As they have high oil content in them, they are also good for hairy areas.
Lotions are water-based. Compared to oil-based products, lotions are less moisturising. However, lotions do cool the skin and are easily applied to areas with lots of hair.
They tend to be very greasy so a practical point would be to use a towel or sheet when you are spraying them.
If adverse reactions do occur, preservatives found in creams and lotions are often the cause. This is why ointments are often seen as a better alternative. However, since the choice of treatment is often a question of preference, it is useful to try different formulations.
Find out more about Hydromol by clicking here.
Some moisturisers contain antimicrobials or antibacterials which can help keep bacteria levels on your skin down to prevent infections. As such, these products are not intended for long term use.
They are commonly found in skin moisturisers and emollients as they draw water from deeper in the skin to the upper layer, making your skin feel smoother and more hydrated. They also increase the pliability and flexibility of the skin preventing the skin from cracking.
Some humectants are also components of the skin’s Natural Moisturising Factor (NMF), such as Sodium PCA so can replace lost NMF when using products containing these.
Find out more about our humectant emollient by clicking here.
It has been used extensively in products for its thickening properties, especially in aqueous cream.
It is advisable to get SLS free moisturiser. Many companies have withdrawn this from their products.
Find out more about the SLS free Hydromol emollients by clicking here.
Paraffin based products do pose a fire risk and they can be ignited by a naked flame when it is soaked into clothing. All emollients are flammable, even those that are non-paraffin or oat based when they have soaked into sheets, so we advise washing sheets on a hot wash to minimise the risk
If you do use these types of products, you will be given an information sheet from the pharmacy advising you not to smoke or come in contact with fire when you are using paraffin based products.
Do you know about “Complete Emollient Therapy”?
By replacing soaps and shower gels with emollient-based products, and regularly applying lots of emollient creams or ointments, you can help to support your skin’s natural barrier and maintain hydration.
Leave-on moisturisers and moisturiser soap substitutes are non-foaming so it may be useful to use other products for under the arms and genital area to feel fresh and clean. Any products used should have as little fragrance and perfume as possible.
The Hydromol range can be used as part of a CET routine.
The other treatment you may be prescribed to control your eczema is a topical steroid preparation.
These preparations have been around for a long time. They are applied directly onto the skin to help reduce inflammation and irritation. They are the first-line treatments for eczema flare ups. Like moisturisers, they come in different forms (ointments, creams, gels, mousses, tapes and bandages) and four different strengths (mild, moderate, potent and very potent).
Generally, if your skin is dry, ointments or gel preparations will be the preferred option. If the eczema is weeping or moist then using a cream preparation will be preferred.
Both children and adults can use topical steroids.
When using topical steroids on a child or an elderly person’s skin, mild to moderate potency topical steroids are recommended.
Topical steroids should be used according to your prescription and should be applied to the affected areas only.
A thin layer should be gently smoothed onto the skin in the direction of your hair growth.
The general amount to apply is normally measured in Fingertip Units (FTUs).
An FTU is an amount needed to squeeze a line from the tip of an adult’s finger to the first crease of the finger. This is enough to cover both hands with the fingers together. Half a gram is approximately equivalent to one FTU for an adult.
Your healthcare professional should discuss appropriate amounts of topical steroids that should be applied with you.
If you’re using both topical corticosteroids and emollients, you should apply the emollient first, then wait about 30 minutes before applying the topical corticosteroid.
You should always apply topical steroids as prescribed by your HCP. This includes completing the treatment course and gradually reducing treatment over time.
Topical steroids need to be gradually weaned off and not stopped abruptly as this can cause your skin to rebound and flare up. Discuss this with your doctor or nurse.
If you use them correctly, topical corticosteroids rarely have serious side effects.
The most common side effect of topical corticosteroids is a burning or stinging sensation when the medicine is applied.
Topical calcineurin inhibitors do not contain steroids but are anti-inflammatory and interfere with the process of inflammation.
They tend to be used on patients who are not responding adequately to or who cannot tolerate topical steroids.
They can be used on both children and adults and are another useful addition to the treatment options for eczema.
Topical calcineurin inhibitors are particularly suitable for delicate areas of skin.
They may be used alongside other treatments on the advice of your healthcare professional, and always in addition to emollients.
Topical calcineurin inhibitors can give a sense of warmth, heat or burning for the first three days. This is considered quite normal and the skin typically adjusts. It is like the product is drawing the inflammation from the skin.
The main precaution for topical calcineurin inhibitors is avoidance of excessive sun exposure.
Did you know…?
Topical calcineurin inhibitors can give a sense of warmth, heat or burning after the first few applications. This is considered quite normal and the skin typically adjusts and settles down within a week.1 It is like the product is drawing the inflammation from the skin.
The other treatment you may be prescribed to control your eczema is a topical steroid preparation.
These preparations have been around for a long time. They are applied directly onto the skin to help reduce inflammation and irritation. They are the first-line treatments for eczema flare ups. Like moisturisers, they come in different forms (ointments, creams, gels, mousses, tapes and bandages) and four different strengths (mild, moderate, potent and very potent).
Generally, if your skin is dry, ointments or gel preparations will be the preferred option. If the eczema is weeping or moist then using a cream preparation will be preferred.
Both children and adults can use topical steroids.
When using topical steroids on a child or an elderly person’s skin, mild to moderate potency topical steroids are recommended.
Topical steroids should be used according to your prescription and should be applied to the affected areas only.
A thin layer should be gently smoothed onto the skin in the direction of your hair growth.
The general amount to apply is normally measured in Fingertip Units (FTUs).
An FTU is an amount needed to squeeze a line from the tip of an adult’s finger to the first crease of the finger. This is enough to cover both hands with the fingers together. Half a gram is approximately equivalent to one FTU for an adult.
Your healthcare professional should discuss appropriate amounts of topical steroids that should be applied with you.
If you’re using both topical corticosteroids and emollients, you should apply the emollient first, then wait about 30 minutes before applying the topical corticosteroid.
You should always apply topical steroids as prescribed by your HCP. This includes completing the treatment course and gradually reducing treatment over time.
Topical steroids need to be gradually weaned off and not stopped abruptly as this can cause your skin to rebound and flare up. Discuss this with your doctor or nurse.
If you use them correctly, topical corticosteroids rarely have serious side effects.
The most common side effect of topical corticosteroids is a burning or stinging sensation when the medicine is applied.
Antihistamines are useful products, they come in two forms – non-sedating and sedating.
The sedating kind may leave you feeling a bit groggy the next morning and this may affect your ability to drive or operate machinery.
For school, college or work purposes, the non-sedating form is recommended.
In eczema, oral steroids can be prescribed to offer symptomatic relief to patients with a severe flare-up of their eczema or those waiting for a referral to a dermatologist.
However, when the dose is suddenly stopped or reduced, there is the potential for eczema to flare up again.
Like topical steroids, it is important to reduce your dose down slowly so you don’t get any rebound eczema.
Antibiotics are prescribed if you have got an infection on your skin.
Skin infections are usually easily identified because your skin may be very red, sore and weeping.
Antibiotics will be prescribed by the GP.
Allergy testing may be offered at the local dermatology department if your doctor or nurse feels the eczema is being triggered by an allergy to a substance coming into contact with the skin.
Substances that cause an allergic reaction are called allergens.
Patients will be tested for reactions to common allergens, along with products they regularly use on their own skin, such as shampoo, creams and ointments.
In the dermatology clinic, you may be offered systemic medications or oral tablets to help with your eczema.
These medications need to be considered carefully and patients will often require additional monitoring.
At every stage of the eczema journey, it is important to keep using moisturisers (emollients) to keep the skin hydrated, soft and smooth.
(Local dermatology department)
Phototherapy is also called light therapy and is prescribed to help relieve the itch and the inflammation (redness) of eczema.
The most common form of phototherapy is narrowband ultraviolet B (UVB). Other options may be recommended by your doctor or nurse.
Which emollient is right for you?
Look at our different Hydromol formulations to help you manage your symptoms
1. National Eczema Society. Topical Calcineurin Inhibitors (TCIs). https://eczema.org/information-and-advice/treatments-for-eczema/topical-calcineurin-inhibitors/. Accessed April 2023.