Danger: Dry Skin Season Ahead
Effective extra ingredients make all the difference in skin cream
(NC)-Dry skin can be a problem at any time of the year, although it is usually worse during colder months when humidity is low. Proper skin care can help prevent and treat dry skin, as well as the itch often associated with it. The essential purpose of a skin cream or lotion is to keep the skin moist, so most contain lubricating agents. These work best when applied while the skin is still wet; for example, just after a bath or shower. They don't actually add moisture to skin, but they do trap surface moisture onto the epidermal layer and seal it in. But in addition to these lubricating agents, many creams on the shelves of pharmacies can contain various amounts and combinations of other additives like lanolin, aloe and Vitamin E. Though these have been touted as beneficial, this has not been proven in controlled studies, and in fact, these ingredients may cause allergic reactions. There is another class of ingredients, such as urea and lactic acid, which are called "humectants". Urea, one such ingredient, actually binds water below the surface of the epidermis, right down to the stratus corneum, the skin-building layer. Urea is an effective moisturizing factor and keratolytical (exfoliating) agent. On rough, dry skin creams with urea, like Uremol, are very effective and are best used on damp skin immediately after bathing. It is important when purchasing a skin cream to make sure it contains ingredients that do what you want - moisturize - and don't go overboard with ingredients.
- News Canada
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