Emollients
Emollient is a medical term for a cream, ointment, lotion or oil that moisturises the skin. People with eczema are especially liable to lose moisture from their skin. One of the most important elements in managing eczema is to keep the skin soft and supple by frequent and generous use of emollients.
In a 1999 study, it was found that when emollients were used appropriately in a group of children with atopic eczema, there was an overall 89% reduction in the severity of the eczema.
 Emollients are not the whole answer to treating eczema, but alongside information and education about eczema, they are the foundation on which everything else should be based. The key to looking after skin with eczema is to use emollients as often as possible, and to bathe or shower regularly using emollient soap substitutes and emollient bath oils; this will help protect against irritation and infection.
Although emollients may take a while to get used to, they are very effective at cleaning as well as moisturising the skin.
Emollients come as:
- Ointments (most suitable for very dry, thickened skin. Not suitable for weeping eczema)
- Creams (easily absorbed, easy to spread and good for daytime use)
- Lotions (light and easy to apply, good for weeping eczema or hairy parts of the body)
- Bath/shower oils (as well as cleansing, they prevent skin drying out by trapping water under a film of oil)
- Soap substitutes (as good at cleansing as soap, but much less drying)
People tend to underestimate how valuable emollients can be in keeping eczema under control. However, there
Facts
- Emollients are not the same as cosmetic moisturisers. They are usually unperfumed and have no anti-ageing ingredients
- Used every day, emollients may be all you need to keep mild to moderate eczema under control
- Some products leave more oil on the skin than others, so finding what suits you best may be a process of trial and error
- You can use bath oils in the shower by putting them on a damp sponge or by applying them ‘neat’ all over your body before showering off
- Correct use of emollients can reduce the need for topical corticosteroids
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may be times when your eczema is so sore you cannot tolerate baths or showers. Keep the skin as clean as possible using emollients and soap substitutes during this time.
Emollients help to keep skin moist, comfortable and supple. They soften the skin, reducing inflammation and irritation. If you have eczema it is advisable to use emollients instead of ordinary moisturisers, soaps and bath products, all of which can irritate and dry out the skin. However, finding an emollient that is suitable for your skin is by trial and error. What works for one person does not necessarily work for the next. Even ingredients in emollients can cause irritation in some people.
Ointments are very greasy and they can be messy, but they are good for holding water in the skin. They can be used at night, or with wet wrap bandages.
Because creams and lotions contain water as well as fat, they have preservatives in them to stop them going off. Occasionally, some people get a skin reaction to these preservatives, in which case you may need to change cream or switch to an ointment instead. Ointments do not contain preservatives.
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