Protect that sensitive skin

Last week was Eczema Awareness Week. According to the Irish Skin Foundation, atopic eczema occurs when the skin’s protective barrier is weakened, allowing moisture to be lost, and irritants and allergens to pass through the skin more easily.

Some common everyday substances, such as soap, bubble bath, shampoo, laundry detergents and fragrances may irritate the skin and should be avoided.

Most skincare that is recommended is fragrance free which is handy if you are a family, as it means that everyone can use the same product. Instead, soap-free products and specially formulated products should be used on the skin.

Eczema is the general term for a group of skin conditions that causes dry, itchy, scaly and red skin. Eczema affects one in twelve adults in Ireland, and one in five children. There is no cure for eczema but in most cases, it is manageable.

Eczema is identified as areas of the skin will become very itchy, dry and have inflamed red patches. This will generally occur on the face and body. Keeping skin hydrated is vital, and emollients are great for moisturising the skin and preventing it from drying out.

Patting your skin dry with a soft towel is far more beneficial than rubbing which can cause the itch, scratch cycle. Try to sleep in natural fabrics too like light cotton, which really helps. Extremes of temperature like cold and heat can also affect me I find.

Uriage Xemose Emollient Milk, 400ml, contains patented chronoxine which soothes the skin right away. It protects the skin while reducing dryness and the feeling of tightness. It is perfect for use any time of the year.

Uriage Xemose Emollient Milk gives up to 24 hours of moisture and is easy to spread, even on areas covered in hair or on scaly skin.

La Roche-Posay’s Lipikar body skincare range has been specifically designed for very dry to eczema-prone skin for all the family including babies. Formulated with minimalist formulas that work in partnership with the skin, the Lipikar range provides immediate relief of skin discomfort and with regular use, decreases the re-occurrence of flare-ups. I have used this during winter and have found it to offer superb relief.

Italian skincare brand Relife, which launched in Ireland in April has grown substantially in distribution in recent months. I have had the pleasure of trying some of the products on my own atopic itchy skin in recent months. Made by the Menarini Group, the first product in the Relife range to be launched here is Relizema, aimed at managing conditions such as eczema, dermatitis and dry or sensitive skin.

Ireland is the first country in the world, outside of Italy, to launch Relife as an over the counter brand. This is a great addition to the over the counter offering.

Relizema lipid-replenishing cleanser cleans, hydrates and moisturises, no stripping of the skin or discomfort after using. The Relizema hydrating cleansing bath oil is a multi-purpose oil, used as a protective bath oil, it means that you can bathe comfortably. When you get out, you can use it as a moisturiser, on damp skin.

It can also be used as a very gentle make-up remover; it’ll remove even heavy mascara. This was a game changer for me as I had suffered with sensitivity around my eyes for some time.

There is also a spray for intimate areas, for babies’ bottoms and adults can use it also. I initially mistook it for a scalp spray and it honestly was so cooling. Price-wise everything is under €22.

For a budget friendly brand, try Lotil. This rich cream can help to reduce the red, dry skin that eczema causes. Establishing a daily skincare routine and using the Lotil emollient at least twice a day will help to prevent dryness and your skin feeling dry and itchy. Lotil, a multipurpose cream is fragrance free and contains anti-bacterial and antiseptic properties that provide a long-lasting barrier to infection. It starts at €2.99 and is available in Boots.

Eau Thermale Avène, a leader in sensitive skincare, has developed a new addition to its renowned Hydrance range just in time for the Irish winter months. I loved the serum in this range, which was just perfect for winter last year. It launched just in time and was their Hero hydrator of 2018. Avène’s hero product of 2019, the Hydrance Aqua Gel, is the all-in-one wonder pot for all your hydration needs.

This innovation from Avène provides three-in-one care for your skin: apply a light veil as your daily moisturiser or a thicker layer at night for a deeply hydrating mask. Ideal for use all over the face and eye contour, it hydrates, soothes and detoxifies the skin to restore its natural hydration levels.

The new Hydrance Aqua-Gel €30 is a visibly dense gel at first sight which breaks into a beautiful freshwater formula when applied to the skin. Combined within this unique formula is 75 per cent Avène Thermal Spring Water and patented active cohederm to hydrate, soothe and detoxify. The delicate blend offers immediate comfort and a soothing feeling upon application.

Each carefully chosen ingredient helps to position the Hydrance Aqua Gel as an all-in-one hero product, providing long-lasting effective hydration, detoxification, restoration of the natural protective barrier all while smoothing dehydration lines, leaving skin plump and soft.