Emollient Creams, Ointments, and Lotions

You can use an emollient every day to soothe your eczema or other dry skin conditions.

Simply apply the emollient cream, lotion or ointment to the affected area of skin, gently smoothing the emollient over the skin following the direction of hair growth.

The emollient will dry and form a protective barrier over your skin to help it to rehydrate as you suffer with dry skin caused by eczema.

For more information, read our guide about eczema and its available treatments linked below.

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Although emollient creams, lotions, and ointments all work in the same way, their slightly different formulations means that they may be more suitable for some times than others.

For example, some people choose to use emollient creams during the day when they’re having an eczema flare up, and then use an ointment at night due to its thicker formula.

Some people also choose to use lotions every day either as a cleanser or over their eczema prone skin to help to keep their skin as hydrated as possible.

Some emollients can be used as cleansers, either for their hands or as body washes in the bath or shower.

This helps them to avoid using soaps, which can aggravate some dry skin conditions such as eczema or dermatitis.

There are also some emollients that can be used in your bath water in place of bubble baths, bath salts, or other products so you can protect your sensitive skin there too.

However, if you do choose to use an emollient in the bath or shower, bare in mind that it can make your bath or shower slippery.

You should take extra care not to slip after using an emollient bathing product, and should clean your bath or shower properly afterwards to help to prevent yourself or others from falling.

Children who suffer with eczema or other dry skin conditions like psoriasis or dermatitis can use eczema to ease their symptoms.

Both Oilatum and Epaderm have Junior emollient ranges which are designed to soothe and protect children’s sensitive skin.

However, not every product will be child friendly, so you should speak to your doctor or Chemist 4 U pharmacist before using a new emollient on your child for the first time.

Emollients work by forming a thin protective layer over the skin.

This layer doesn’t just help to keep moisture locked into your skin, hydrating it from the inside, but it helps to protect the skin from outside irritants.

It’s effectively a two in one method of keeping your skin protected and hydrated as you manage your dry skin condition.