The skin you are born with will take you on this journey in life so it’s important to take good care of it. Think of your skin as your first line of defense or a “barrier” to the world around you. Your skin protects you against germs and ultraviolet light. Your skin also helps keep your body temperature in check and prevents dehydration. It’s important to keep your skin healthy just like any other part of your body. Healthy skin is moisturized skin! Whether you notice a few flakes or have a skin condition like atopic dermatitis, adding moisture to your skin creates a strong skin barrier so your skin can do its job. When your skin is too dry, it’s weak and can make certain skin conditions, like atopic dermatitis, worse. Dry skin can also cause itching, inflammation and affect the pH and microbiome (all the yeast, bacteria and fungi) that live on our skin. Moisturizer replenishes your skin to help it maintain its strength, pH balance and restore the microbiome. Basically, moisturizer keeps your skin fit so it can perform at its highest level.
So do you need a lotion, cream or ointment? What’s the difference you ask? Lotions and creams are made of water and oil. Lotions have a higher water content and significantly less oil. Lotions are better for those with oily or combination skin and often preferred in warmer, humid climates. Creams contain a higher oil content which makes them dense and thick. Creams help lock in moisture and are recommended for dry skin during those cold winter months. Ointments are mostly oil or petrolatum based and useful for very dry, cracked skin. They are occlusive and trap in moisture.
Effective moisturizers not only provide hydration, but they can also contain ingredients like urea, glycerol, lipids, including ceramides, cholesterol and fatty acids that help repair the skin barrier. Other components that may be helpful include natural oils from coconut, sunflower seeds, safflower, borage, corn and sea buckthorn. They have essential fatty acids and/or linoleic acid that reinforce the skin barrier. However, remember that natural isn’t always better. Sometimes natural ingredients, like olive oil, can worsen skin conditions like atopic dermatitis.
Choosing a moisturizer is personal and you may have a preference based on the product’s texture, feel on the skin or smell. A good rule to follow is to pick a moisturizer that has the National Eczema Association’s Seal of Acceptance™ program. Avoid certain ingredients like fragrance, formaldehyde, formaldehyde releasers or Balsam of Peru. If you are concerned about potential allergens or ingredients on the bad list, check out the National Eczema Foundation’s Ecz-clusion List. Try to moisturize daily and follow the three-minute rule—moisturize within three minutes of taking a bath or shower while the skin is still moist.
Trotter’s Take: Having dry skin isn’t just a cosmetic issue. Moisturizing is an important part of a routine for healthy skin and can help prevent atopic dermatitis flares.
Listen to this week’s podcast with pediatric dermatologist, Dr. Lisa Swanson, as she discusses atopic dermatitis in children and her recommendations for moisturization.
