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Dry skin is especially common in children under
10 and older people over 60. Some 15 to 20 percent of the population
are prone to dry skin (xeroderma) due to an atopic predisposition.
Between the age of 10 and 60, many more women then men suffer from
dry skin. In general one can distinguish between dry skin and extremely
dry skin. In both types, the cause is essentially a deficiency in
natural moisturising factors (NMF), especially urea. Atopic dry
skin is a special form in which a disturbed fatty acid metabolism
of the skin plays a major role.
Dry skin is characterized by:
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mild scaling |
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roughness |
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feeling of tightness |
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possibly itching |
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Due to a disturbed cornification
process, the concentration of the natural moisturising factor urea
is markedly reduced. A reduced moisture retaining capacity follows
and the skin loses increased amounts of water (transepidermal water
loss, TEWL), is drying out and developing the corresponding symptoms.
At the same time, dry skin contains fewer natural lipids. Besides
ceramides, these skin lipids consist mainly of triglycerides, cholesterol
and free fatty acids. As barrier lipids in the stratum corneum, they
largely determine the water binding capacity of the skin. In healthy
skin, there is an intact balance between lipids and moisture, but
in dry skin this sensitive balance is disturbed. The consequences
are an impaired barrier function, increased loss of moisture from
the skin, and a greatly reduced water binding capacity. For this reason,
dry skin is especially prone to allergic reactions, for example to
fragrances. For the care of dry skin, preparations with approximately
3 to 5 percent urea are suitable. Daily skin care with a combination
of skin-related lipids such as triglycerides, cholesterol and free
fatty acids stabilises the barrier function of the skin and brings
about a significant increase in skin moisture. |
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Urea significantly increases the water
binding capacity of the skin when compared with the application of
pure water or a W/O emulsion without active ingredients (according
to Wohlrab 1988) |
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Characteristics of extremely dry skin
Treatment is often necessary in order to alleviate the following symptoms: |
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roughness and chapping |
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hyperkeratosis/scaling |
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itching |
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Regular care with natural
lipids and urea-containing products is especially important for extremely
dry skin like that of the elderly, for aged skin produces fewer lipids
and retains less moisture. Extremely dry skin often will also need
therapy. This can be supported with skincare products having urea
concentrations of around 10 percent and higher.
Special form: atopic dry skin
In the case of atopic dry skin (neurodermatitis) there is evidence
of:
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scaling, rough skin with lichenification
(skin thickening, chapping) and rhagades |
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intensive itching |
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a tendency to redness and inflammation
(atopic eczema) |
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Besides a lack of natural moisturising
factors - especially urea - there is a disturbance of the fatty acid
metabolism, leading to qualitative changes in the lipid barrier of
the skin and thus to a disturbed barrier function: Scientific research
has shown that cutaneously absorbed essential omega-6 fatty acids
like linoleic acid and gamma-linolenic acid
are in-corporated into the linoleic acid-dependent structural lipids.
This is why the use of omega-6 fatty acid-containing topical preparations
is particularly recommended for atopic dry skin. Medicated oil baths
with a high content of skin-related, linoleic acid-rich lipids have
additional emollient, anti-pruritic, and keratolytic properties. The
use of a special bath product that also contains an emulsifier enhances
this effect. The skin is supplied with the essential lipids through
both the tiniest oil droplets in the bath water while bathing and
the film of oil on the surface of the water that adheres to the skin
like a protective layer when stepping out of the bath. In this manner,
the barrier function of atopic dry skin is restored. In addition,
skincare products with a high urea content can balance out the lack
of natu-ral moisturising factors found in neurodermatitis sufferers. |
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Evening primrose oil, which can be applied
both orally and topically, is characterized by its richness in linoleic
and gamma-linolenic acid (together approximately 85 percent) and clinically
proven skin compatibility. |
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Cleansing with water or detergents removes lipids and natural moisturising
factors like urea from the skin. The use of hot water will enhance
this effect. Prolonged contact with water alone can increase the
permeability even of healthy skin several fold. The loss of epidermal
lipids and the influence of alkalies disturb the barrier function.
It takes several hours for the skin's own regeneration mechanisms
to restore the skin's original condition. Frequent cleansing and
showering overtaxes these mechanisms; the skin dries out more and
irritant-toxic reactions and contact sensitisations can result.
To avoid exacerbation of the skin condition, dry and extremely dry
skin should only be cleansed as often as necessary and as little
as possible. This is why it is usually recommended to refrain from
daily showering and bathing of dry skin with conventional cleansing
and shower products. To enable patients with dry and extremely dry
skin to maintain their normal cleansing routines, EucerinŽ Skin
Research has developed special cleansing and shower products with
a high content of the natural moisturising factor urea and lipid-replenishing
components.
High-dose urea products can be used for the daily cleansing of all
forms of dry skin. They prevent washing out of the skin's own moisturising
factors and in this way stabilise the urea content of the skin,
the skin's moisture content and the transepidermal water loss (TEWL).
Daily cleansing and showering puts no added strain on the skin and
maintains the skin's natural barrier function.
An intensive lipid-replenishing, nurturing cleansing with a shower
oil with a high content of skin-related lipids and soothing, itch-relieving
components (e.g. polidocanol) is recommended especially for very
dry skin and itching.
Dry scalp
Symptoms of dry scalp are:
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dryness |
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feeling of tightness |
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itching |
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redness |
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dandruff |
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dry scalp has a clearly reduced concentration of lipids and natural
moisturising factors. A predisposition to reduced sebum production
by the scalp, e.g. in diseases like atopic eczema and psoriasis,
and even frequent hair washing can result in a dry scalp and dandruff.
Normally the scalp lipids envelop the hairs, keeping them supple
and shiny. A lack of these lipids therefore also results in dry,
brittle and split hairs that are difficult to style. UV light,
too hot drying and chemical treatment like coulouring and permanent
waves are added stress for a dry scalp and hair.
Every third woman has problems with her scalp of which:
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sensitive:
29% |
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itching,
irritated: 28% |
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dry:
19% |
Source:
Women's Beauty, 1998
Cleansing and care of a dry scalp and
hair
Washing the hair daily, especially
with conventional shampoos, removes not only dust and dirt but
also lipids and moisturising factors from the scalp. This dries
out the scalp and hair and dandruff, inflammation and redness
may occur. That is why the especially skin compatible Eucerin®
5% Urea Shampoo with the natural moisturising factor urea,
skin-related lipids and itch-relieving polidocanol, which has
been proven to soothe the scalp (e.g. in atopic eczema), is highly
recommended for the cleansing and care of dry scalp and hair.
In addition, it makes even dry, damaged hair easy to comb again
as well as shiny, supple and voluminous.
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Summary
Eucerin®
Dry Skin is a physiologically effective special skincare
range for dry, extremely dry, and atopic dry skin. The Eucerin®
Urea preparations bind moisture in the skin and so prevent
dehydration. The Eucerin®
Omega-6-Fatty Acid preparations containing evening
primrose oil strengthen the skin´s barrier function. The Eucerin®
preparations with special lipids are an ideal complement
to the treatment of dry skin conditions. Eucerin®
cleansing products with urea protect against washing out
of the skin's own moisturising factors. The highly skin compatible
Eucerin®
Dry Scalp Relief Shampoo additionally provides lasting regulation
of the disturbed lipid balance of the scalp, soothes the scalp
and reduces dandruff. The hair is given shine and volume and
becomes easy to style. |
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