Treatments for Problem Skin
Having problem skin is hard to live with, regardless of what type of disorder you might have. Eczema and rosacea are not only visible, but uncomfortable and irritating. Part of coping with and treating these different conditions is using the right products. Fortunately, mild eczema is one of the few that can easily be controlled with over-the-counter products. For severe skin problems, it is best to consult a dermatologist to develop an appropriate skin regimen.
Eczema
For those that suffer from mild eczema the key to skin relief is gentle cleansing and heavy moisturizing.
Cleansers
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Look For
- Organic cleansers
 without harsh chemicals, such as sodium laureth sulfate.
- Moisturizing body washes are best.
- If you experience excessive flaking or peeling you may want to look into a mild organic scrub or one that's geared towards sensitive skin. Use with caution though as scrubbing a flare can cause it to get worse. Only use it on areas without active flare ups for best results.
Avoid
- Fragrances or scented cleansers.
- Bath oils that are hard to absorb into the skin.
- Bar soaps that can overdry and leave a film on the skin.
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Moisturizers- Moisturizers should be used often and liberally (up to four times a day).
- Ingredients to look for are petrolatum, mineral oil, silicone, glycerin, panthenol, hyaluronic acid, propylene glycol, butylene glycol, stearyl alcohol, cetyl alcohol, tocopheryl acetate, and prolipids.
- To avoid irritation, opt for those that appear more greasy (strange but true). Since they don't contain preservatives they are less harsh on dry skin.
- If you want to provide more protection for your skin look for an emollient with ceramide. It will help repair surface damage on the skin.
- To help relieve severe itchiness you may need a topical corticosteroid (topical steroids). Hydrocortisone is easy to get, but anything more powerful will require a prescription.
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This severely dry skin remedy is made by Eucerin and both are good for daily use. |
It is a heavy-duty moisturizer with emollients and no fragrance. |
Helpful to nix scarred or broken skin caused by scratching. |
Fragrance-free cream is best for using on the face. |
An excellent, but pricey choice when you need skin saturation. |
Debatable Products- Aquanil HC Lotion : It has 1% hydrocortisone in it for relieving itchiness, however, it does have a large percentage of glycerin and the rest of the ingredients are just water, alcohol, and harsh cleansers. Not recommended.
- Sarnol HC : It has camphor to cool the itch and even 1% hydrocortisone. It also has good emollients listed as some of the top ingredients. However, what is debatable about whether or not this product will cause irritation is its high amount of fragrance. If you haven't any problems with fragrances then this might be a good option for you.
- Nutraderm Therapeutic Lotion : This moisturizer has gotten good reviews across the Web. However, it is probably best to use only on the hands since the sodium laureth sulfate in it is a cleansing agent that can cause irritation.
- Nivea Creme : It is a great moisturizer, but it does have some fragrance, which may cause irritation for some.
Rosacea
Rosacea, which affects around 14 million Americans, often goes untreated. That may be in part due to the fact that there are very few over-the-counter remedies to treat symptoms. Typically, those with acute rosacea don't undergo any treatments at all, whereas those with moderate to severe symptoms need medical advice.
If you have rosacea and know of any great products that are effective in controlling flare ups, feel free to click edit at the top of this page and add your recommendations, advice, or experiences. For now, here is a product recommended in the April 2006 edition of Shop Etc. Magazine called EmerginC D-Red Daytime Emulsion (shown right). While $45 is pricey for a tiny bottle of this serum, it might be worth it when you consider how much better you could feel about yourself if the product works for you. One of the major ingredients is aloe, along with chamomile, echinacea, oat, and sweet almond extract.
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