Eucerin Dry Skin Relief Shower & Bath Therapy

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	mild scaling
	roughness
	feeling of tightness
	possibly itching

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.

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)

Characteristics of extremely dry skin
Treatment is often necessary in order to alleviate the following symptoms:

	roughness and chapping
	hyperkeratosis/scaling
	itching

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:

	scaling, rough skin with lichenification (skin thickening, chapping) and rhagades
	intensive itching
	a tendency to redness and inflammation (atopic eczema)

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.

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.

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, Eucerin 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:

	dryness
	feeling of tightness
	itching
	redness
	dandruff

A 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:

	sensitive: 29%
	itching, irritated: 28%
	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.

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.