Dry skin question

[Nina69]

Do emollient creams like Cetraben, which are made from a mixture of white soft paraffin and liquid paraffin, cause long term damage to your skin and eventually make the skin even drier please? If so does anyone recommend a natural emollient for very dry sensitive skin (fragrance and perfume free).

Thanks

[whatadowner]

I use mainly E45 cream, theres prob loads of different creams i havent tried but thats the best so far, dont no about cetraben

[johnsmith]

It is a long time since I used emollients as I no longer need to. I may be wrong because I memory on the issue is not as accurate as I would like. Emollients run the risk of being a good breeding ground for bacteria.

I no longer need to use emollients because I take evening primrose oil. On taking this substance my skin becan to produce the skin oil it needed and I no longer suffered from dry skin. I take one 500mg tablet a day. When I stop taking it my eczema problems come back.

My recollection is that when I first started taking it it took about a month to become fully effective and then it took several years for my skin to recover from the steroiids I had been taking.

[lovesradio]

I am now using Doublebase gel which is soft paraffin and isoproply mistrate. Prefer it to dermol which is more drying. Don't think cause damage to skin as are really more of a barrier than anything else. But I am defo going to try john's evening primrose oil tip as I am at moment having problem with patches on my back of right hand and wrist which I think is contact issue as I wear lymphoedema glove on left hand and have no skin probs on that side.. Am suspecting the lining of the rubber gloves I use when cleaning to protect my hands from detergents and other cleaning agents! Can't win really

Lol

lovesradio

[chandora in reply to lovesradio]

Have you tried Boots own derma lined rubber gloves - they have a soft cotton lining. I can't do any washing or washing up or cleaning without them. I am allergic to the lining in Marigold gloves because of the chalky lining they use.

[chandora]

I also agree with John - the evening of evening primrose oil capsules really do help. My friend, who is a nursing assistant to a dermatologist, recommended them to me in 1997 and I've taken them ever since. At the moment I am taking the oil of evening primrose oil with cod liver oil combined.

My 19 year old son has been using Cetraben for 5 years and it seems to be suiting him. As individuals, it's hard to say because what's good for one person may not be good for another. It's a bit of trial and error.

Message to "lovesradio" - have you tried Boots own derma lined rubber gloves - they have a soft cotton lining. I can't do any washing or washing up or cleaning without them. I am allergic to the lining in Marigold gloves because of the chalky lining they use.

[lovesradio in reply to chandora]

Thanks so much for this tip chandora, it's Marigold gloves I've been wearing but will try the Boots ones AND their evening primrose oil capsules!!

[whatadowner]

Im going to give the evening primrose oil a go, cheers john, worth a try i guess.

1000mg ones if you can get that if not then 500mg

[samad1302]

In Eczema, the function of the skin as a barrier is impaired so that irritants and allergens enter the skin and cause inflammation and dryness.

In normal individuals, skin cells form a barrier against foreign substances by closely sitting next to each other. The spaces between the cells filled by body’s natural oils which, works in the same way as mortar, cementing the cells together thereby preventing the penetration of the skin by unwanted substances such as bacteria, irritants and allergens. I am just going to assume Evening Primrose Oil will do this but I doubt if this is the case.

In a person with eczema or dry skin, the natural oils that exist between the cells are depleted or missing. This allows the skin to lose moisture too quickly, leading to dryness initially. If not treated, the skin cells shrink, opening gaps between them, which allow irritants such as bacteria and allergens to enter the skin. The cell shrinkage and loss of moisture results in skin dryness, inflammation and infection.

Moisturisers do not cause tolerance and therefore can be applied continuously to keep skin moisturised at all times. There are three type of treatment currently available:

1. Moisturisers

2. Typical Steroids

3. Bio-bacterial barrier

Moisturisers are used first line and therefore they need to be used at all times whether you take another supplement such as Evening Primrose. Not everyone will have the same effect from the supplements because individuals are different and cause of eczema exacerbation may be different. I therefore suggest to use Evening Primrose oil together with moisturiser. I am not sure how old some of the respondents are but when you reach certain age your skin becomes dry. Evening Primrose oil is used by post menopausal women to help with hormone imbalances and symptoms of menopause, one of which is skin dryness. Also remember unless you alway had dry skin, sometimes dry skin can be indication for other conditions. For example people who are low in Thyroid can develop dry skin. it is worthwhile to get this checked if your dry skin is new and have had no history in the past.

Typical and oral steroids are only used in flare up for period of not longer than two week. Steroids because of side effects have significant health implications when used long term and hence used in those with severe eczema. I assume your case is a simple dryness.

In Europe and recently in UK a new class of typical treatment for eczema became available. It stops bacterial attaching to the skin and multiplying. Bacteria multiplication is known to cause irritation, dryness and flare ups. If you google you will get wealth of information on Bio-bacteria skin barrier cream use in eczema.

Always remember, allergy avoidance is the best way of avoiding irritation and dryness of the skin. Always check to see what you have used prior to irritation or flare ups and then avoid them all together. I hope this helps to answer your question.

[Pinkcheeks in reply to samad1302]

I am really struggling with my newly extremely sensitive skin, I recently developed a sensitivity to all plants, botanicals and oils so there is literally nothing I can use to moisturise that doesn't irritate my face or make it itch in some way, it's misery, my face feels like sandpaper and is dry due to reacting to pretty much every moisturiser I try as sensitive skin products all contain honey, rose, cucumber, aloe etc all of which cause some sort of irritation, I cannot use E45 or anything with liquid paraffin or mineral oil as I get the same reaction, red itchy bumps or red streaks or rashes,

Does anyone have any idea how I can moisturise or clean my face that doesn't involve plants or natural oils or man made oils, or E45 type creams, it's having a devastating effect on me