Using An Emollient Cream
Emollients are moisturising creams often used to treat dry skin complaints such as eczema and psoriasis.
With modern living, the natural oils in our skin can be washed away with soaps and shower gels and this can cause your skin to dry out or lead to skin irritations.
Using an emollient cream can help reduce this drying out by moisturising the skin and creating a barrier.
Emollient creams can also be used in place of soaps for washing and bathing and also as a shaving foam.
They can be purchased as Bath oils, ointments or moisturising creams.
How an Emollients Works They work by coating skin in a protective film thus reducing natural water loss.
Some do this by coating the surface in a waxy film and these type of emollient creams need to be washed off before subsequent applications are applied, otherwise the user will find a dense waxy deposit/layer will form which is not easy to remove.
What Emollients Can Do
These can be mixed with other ointments and treatments that can act as an anti-septic for example.
Using an Emollient Cream for Your Feet It's a good idea to use an emollient cream after washing and bathing your feet.
It is important to make sure you dry in between your toes and any creviced areas if you have lymphoedema.
This will enable the scheme to expand and contract if you have any swelling and may stop abrasions and blisters occurring in footwear.
It is also important to note not to place the cream in between the toes if you have a infection such as athletes foot (Tina Pedis) as this may encourage it's spread or persistence.
When Not to Use an Emollient Cream They are most effective on very dry or thickened skin and so are not suitable if your skin is broken, split or weeping.
In these cases you may need a course of antibiotics, steroids or some kind of topical antiseptic cream and/or dressings supplied at the discretion of your doctor.
In Summary You may need to try several different kinds of emollient is before you find one that is best for you and your skin type.
Also you may need to use two different kinds of cream, one for during the day for moisturising for example and one ointments type for overnight.
Waxy type emollients tends to be better for eczema and psoriasis and lighter types of emollients containing urea for feet.
If you would like more information on emollient's and foot care creams, please visit our website via the links below.
With modern living, the natural oils in our skin can be washed away with soaps and shower gels and this can cause your skin to dry out or lead to skin irritations.
Using an emollient cream can help reduce this drying out by moisturising the skin and creating a barrier.
Emollient creams can also be used in place of soaps for washing and bathing and also as a shaving foam.
They can be purchased as Bath oils, ointments or moisturising creams.
How an Emollients Works They work by coating skin in a protective film thus reducing natural water loss.
Some do this by coating the surface in a waxy film and these type of emollient creams need to be washed off before subsequent applications are applied, otherwise the user will find a dense waxy deposit/layer will form which is not easy to remove.
What Emollients Can Do
- Soften fissures and cracks in the skin
- Moisturise dry skin conditions
- Help with itching
- Help retain skin moisture
- Allow other medications to enter the skin
These can be mixed with other ointments and treatments that can act as an anti-septic for example.
Using an Emollient Cream for Your Feet It's a good idea to use an emollient cream after washing and bathing your feet.
It is important to make sure you dry in between your toes and any creviced areas if you have lymphoedema.
This will enable the scheme to expand and contract if you have any swelling and may stop abrasions and blisters occurring in footwear.
It is also important to note not to place the cream in between the toes if you have a infection such as athletes foot (Tina Pedis) as this may encourage it's spread or persistence.
When Not to Use an Emollient Cream They are most effective on very dry or thickened skin and so are not suitable if your skin is broken, split or weeping.
In these cases you may need a course of antibiotics, steroids or some kind of topical antiseptic cream and/or dressings supplied at the discretion of your doctor.
In Summary You may need to try several different kinds of emollient is before you find one that is best for you and your skin type.
Also you may need to use two different kinds of cream, one for during the day for moisturising for example and one ointments type for overnight.
Waxy type emollients tends to be better for eczema and psoriasis and lighter types of emollients containing urea for feet.
If you would like more information on emollient's and foot care creams, please visit our website via the links below.
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