Emollients

Emollients are moisturising treatments that can protect your skin and help to reduce water loss.

Emollients come as creams, ointments, lotions and sprays that you put on your skin.

You can use some emollients instead of soap. You can also get an emollient wash or soap substitute to wash with.

Skin problems emollients help with

You can use an emollient to help with dry, itchy or scaly skin problems.

For example:

• eczema
• psoriasis
• ichthyosis - a rare condition that causes scaly skin

Emollients help stop skin problems getting worse. They also help stop them from coming back (flare-ups).

You may have to try a few different emollients or try a mix to find the best type for you. For example, you may decide to use a cream during the day and an ointment at night.

Types of emollients

There are lots of different types of emollients. Some contain ingredients to reduce itching or prevent infection.

Creams

Creams are good to use during the day. They're not very greasy and they soak into your skin fast.

Ointments

Ointments are good if you have very dry, thickened skin. They are good to use at night. They're greasy, thick and very moisturising.

Ointments usually do not contain preservatives. This makes them better for sensitive skin.

Do not use ointments on damaged areas of skin with pus coming out (weeping eczema).

Lotions

Lotions are good for hairy areas of skin. This is because lotions are thin and spread easily. But lotions are not very moisturising.

Lotions are also good for damaged areas of skin such as weeping eczema.

Sprays

Sprays are good for:

• hard-to-reach areas
• sore or infected skin that you should not touch

Sprays soak into your skin fast.

Soap substitutes or emollient washes

Normal soaps, shampoos and shower gels usually dry out your skin. They can make some skin conditions worse.

You can wash your skin with many emollients such as creams, lotions and ointments. But you can also buy an emollient wash or soap substitute. If you use this instead of normal soap for handwashing and washing your body, it can help your skin.

How to get emollients

Talk to your GP or pharmacist. They can tell you about types of emollient that work best for your skin condition.

You can buy emollients from a pharmacy without a prescription. If your skin problem is bad, talk to your GP. You may need a stronger treatment.

When to put on emollients

Emollients are very safe and you cannot overuse them. Using emollients often keeps your skin well moisturised and in good condition.

You can put on emollients:

• as often as you like - especially on your hands and face
  
• after washing your hands, taking a bath or showering - this is when your skin needs moisture
• when your skin feels dry or tight - emollients replace lost moisture
• before doing activities that can irritate your skin such as swimming or gardening
• before meals - especially babies' hands and cheeks to reduce soreness from food and drink

You can use emollient soap substitutes for:

• handwashing
• showering
• in the bath

If you or your children need to use an emollient often, keep some in small pots or tubes at school or work.

How to use emollients

Use a clean spoon or spatula to take emollients out of a pot or tub. Using your finger could spread an infection to the pot.

Gently smooth the emollient into the skin in the direction that your hair grows. Do not rub it in.

If you use an emollient after washing, pat your skin dry first.

Using soap substitutes (emollient wash products)

1. Mix a small amount (about a teaspoonful) of soap substitute in the palm of your hand with a little warm water.
2. Spread it over damp or dry skin - it does not foam like soap but still cleans your skin.
3. Rinse with water.
4. Pat your skin dry - be careful not to rub it.

If your skin stings from the product and does not settle after rinsing, talk to your pharmacist. They can tell you about a different product you could try.

Slippy floors, showers and baths

Emollients and soap substitutes can make your bath or shower slippy.

To reduce the risk of slipping:

• use a non-slip mat, towel or sheet
• wash your bath or shower with hot water and washing-up liquid - wear gloves to protect your skin
• dry your bath or shower with a kitchen towel

Using emollients with other skin treatments

Your GP may tell you to use a steroid cream or another treatment for your skin condition.

Wait at least 30 minutes after putting on your emollient before using another treatment.

This is so the emollient does not:

• weaken the treatment
• spread the treatment to areas of skin that do not need it

Fire risk

If you or your child's dressings, clothing and bedding have been in contact with an emollient they can easily catch fire. This happens especially if you use paraffin-based emollients.

Wash fabrics at high temperatures. It does not remove the emollient completely. But it may reduce the build-up.

Side effects

Emollients can sometimes cause a skin reaction, such as:

• a burning or stinging sensation that does not settle after a few days of treatment - this is usually caused by an ingredient in the emollient
• blocked or inflamed hair follicles (folliculitis) that may cause boils
• rashes on the face that can make acne worse

If you have any of these symptoms, talk to a GP, nurse or pharmacist.

Aqueous cream side effects

Aqueous cream is useful to wash your skin. But it can cause skin reactions such as burning, stinging, itching and redness for some people who use it as a moisturiser.

This can happen to children with atopic eczema.