List of Partners vendors. When you have itchy, scaly skin, finding the right eczema cream is important. Two substances known to provide relief from eczema symptoms are lactic acid and urea.
People with eczema are believed to have a genetic mutation that weakens a protein called filaggrin in the epidermis the outermost layer of skin. The lack of filaggrin triggers numerous changes in your skin:. To treat eczema, it's important to remove dead cells and restore moisture, which is where exfoliants and humectants come in. Exfoliants remove dead cells from the surface of your skin.
You may be most familiar with physical exfoliants, which are abrasive or gritty and manually remove dead cells. Lactic acid is a chemical exfoliant, meaning that it isn't abrasive. Instead, it helps loosen the bonds between cells and allows dry skin to be sloughed off. Humectants help your skin retain moisture by binding with water molecules, drawing moisture from the second layer of skin the dermis to the epidermis and holding it there.
That helps keeps your skin from flaking, cracking, and chafing. Humectants also break down cellular proteins in a way that helps your skin rid itself of dead cells. Because they act as both exfoliants and humectants, lactic acid and urea have both been studied and found to be among the more effective moisturizers for eczema. Lactic acid is an alpha-hydroxy acid that can be derived from milk but is generally synthesized for skincare products. It's also a natural component of healthy skin.
You can buy over-the-counter eczema cream containing lactic acid or have a lactic acid peel performed by a professional in a day spa superficial peels only or medical setting deeper peels.
With regular use, lactic acid exfoliates and speeds up cell renewal, which leaves your skin looking brighter and feeling softer. Products containing lactic acid can also improve skin in ways not related to eczema, including:. Additionally, lactic acid is used in products that treat psoriasis , rosacea , and combined with salicylic acid to treat several types of warts. A study suggests that lactic acid reduces itching in eczema after the first use and restores skin barrier integrity.
Over-the-counter products come in various formulations, including:. It can be irritating, especially at higher levels, if your skin isn't used to it.
Throughout use of these products, watch how your skin reacts so you don't irritate it, follow the directions, and don't go for too high a strength too fast. Also be aware of what other ingredients are in the product you choose, as they can alter your results.
Simpler products make it easier for you to determine what is working—or working against you. If your skin has uneven pigmentation and fine wrinkles in addition to dryness, you may want to look into professional lactic-acid-containing peels.
Several treatments generally need to be done to get desired results. Talk to your dermatologist about whether peels or over-the-counter products are the right choice for you. Urea, also called carbamide, is a natural component of healthy skin that's synthesized for use in lotions and other skincare products. You can buy a range of over-the-counter eczema creams and other formulations that contain this ingredient. Urea isn't used in any prescription eczema treatments.
Urea draws water to your skin cells and keeps it there while softening the dry cells on the surface of your skin so you can shed them more easily. With regular use, it improves the barrier layer and helps epidermal cells regenerate more efficiently. It also has painkilling effects, which lessens the itchiness eczema can cause. When used in corticosteroid creams, urea allows the drug to penetrate more deeply than it can alone.
Along with treating eczema, urea can help relieve symptoms of:. A review of moisturizers for eczema found some evidence that urea-containing cream improved dryness and led to fewer flares, and that it was superior to a placebo in terms of overall skin improvements. A review of side effects from use of emollients, including urea, to treat eczema states that adverse events were generally mild and that these treatments are safe to use. Urea is available in multiple preparations, including:. Some products combine urea with other active ingredients; make sure you read ingredient labels to check for anything you know can irritate your condition.
Your dermatologist can help guide you toward the right products and concentrations for you. While one study did suggest that urea may be more effective than lactic acid, it was a small, short-term study and doesn't indicate that urea is the best choice for everyone. Also, different products may be necessary during different stages of your condition.
When choosing between products, the National Eczema Association says to take these steps:. Also look for fairly simple formulations that don't contain fragrances or dyes.
If mild irritation or redness occur when you first apply the product, see if the symptoms goes away in about an hour. If so, the product is probably safe for you to use. If the skin changes are moderate or severe, don't go away, or cause a rash or swelling, wash the skin and don't use the product again. However, a doctor can best advise you whether a urea cream is suitable for your child. Skin care products can contain anywhere from about 2 percent to 40 percent urea.
Skin care products that contain less than 10 percent urea primarily act as moisturizers, according to a review.
A cream containing a low dose of urea may be appropriate for treating dry skin or conditions that lead to dry skin. At strengths above 10 percent, according to the same review, urea creams and lotions have a keratolytic action, meaning they help exfoliate dry and flaking skin. Urea products with a concentration higher than 20 percent have the strongest exfoliating action.
Products in this range may help treat nail fungus and soften thick nails. Urea is a major component of the urine of mammals. In commercial cosmetics, urea is made synthetically in a lab. Synthetic urea is also commonly added to baked goods and wines to help with fermentation. Lotions and creams often contain urea to help moisturize dry or flaking skin or to act as a chemical exfoliator.
Urea cream is generally considered safe, but it can cause skin irritation or an allergic reaction. Dry skin can happen for a number of reasons. Here are 10 moisturizers for dry skin and some moisturizing tips. Learn to recognize the symptoms of heel fissures, how to treat them at home, how to know when you need medical treatment, and how to prevent them.
We all sweat, and yet not everyone has body odor. This depends on your genetics, what's on your skin, and possibly even what you ate last night. Sweat is made up of water, salt, and thousands of other components that contribute…. Keep your skin healthy and hydrated with our 10 top picks for the best moisturizers for acne.
If your skin is itchy, dry, or irritated, you skin barrier may be damaged. These 10 products can help repair and maintain it. Skin can start to lose water and become dry and irritated. Healthy skin contains Natural Moisturizing Factors NMF which attract and bind in water to the outermost layers of skin, helping to prevent it from drying out and becoming scaly and rough.
The Ceramide in the formula repairs the skin barrier and reduces moisture loss. The Urea and other NMFs bind in water, giving immediate relief to dryness and roughness and delivering intense, hour moisturization. Deficiency of skin barrier lipids Deficiency of moisture binding substances such as Urea and other NMFs. The Ceramide in the formula repairs the skin barrier and reduces moisture loss Urea and other NMFs bind in water and relieve symptoms of dryness and roughness.
A moisturizer specially formulated for very dry, rough skin should be rich in the ingredients that skin needs to prevent moisture loss, bind in more water and strengthen its protective barrier. The formula gives immediate relief and carries on working, delaying the symptoms of very dry, rough skin for up to 48 hours.
This product is recommended for adults and has not been tested for children. Most products in this range are suitable for babies over three months old. You can find information about dry skin as well as conditions such as Eczema Atopic Dermatitis and Psoriasis on this website. You can also take our skin test to find out more about your skin type and condition and how best to care for it.
If you are still unsure, or concerned about your symptoms, we recommend you ask a pharmacist or dermatologist for advice. We deliver a holistic dermo-cosmetic approach to protect your skin, keep it healthy and radiant.
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