A recent study at the University of Bath in the UK has discovered that a popular detergent, commonly used in shampoos, lotions and dry skin cream, weakens the skin's resistance to harmful chemicals. It causes the skin to be more prone to irritation. Yet the most frequently prescribed remedy for eczema contains this ingredient. Now, it has been found to worsen the effects of eczema, not to improve it. It is definitely an ingredient to avoid in your dry skin cream.
I am not a fan of scare stories about cosmetics. You've probably heard some of them - how unscrupulous manufactures, driven by greed, put their profits before our health and safety. A telling example is the "there's lead in your lipstick" story. It has circulated widely. Yes, there is lead in lipstick - but only when you get down to the parts per million level. There is also lead in organic olive oil, bottled water, and just about everything else in nature. It is part of the background noise. So while it is technically true that there is lead in lipstick, the story that manufacturers deliberately put it there, or that lipstick is harmful to us, is false.
But some of the chemicals used in cosmetics are problematic, and we are wise to stay away from them, especially if we have dry or sensitive skin. Sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS) is a case in point. It is a detergent that is used to mix oils and water. It lets manufacturers turn water into a creamy lotion. The problem with SLS is that it is too harsh for people with dry skin.
The Bath University study, published in the British Journal of Dermatology raises serious concerns about the use of aqueous cream BP for use with eczema, saying it is likely to make eczema worse. About 30% of the UK population is prone to eczema, and aqueous BP is the most widely prescribed product for treating dry skin conditions. The problem is its SLS content. The study found that it caused the skin's protective barrier to thin by 10% - after just 4 weeks of use.
One of the researchers on the study, quoted in Science Daily, said "Our study suggests that it might be better for eczema patients to use oil-based ointments on damaged skin.". The key is to stay informed about the facts, not the rumors, and to find the products that work best for you. "Sulphate Free" is, clearly, a wise choice when choosing dry skin cream, or any other product, such as shampoo or lotion, that is going to come into contact with dry skin.
My experience has been that once women try a good organic moisturizer to care for dry skin, they see for themselves that the rich emollients in them are for real, not gimmicks created in a lab. They find that their dry skin turns around once they switch to better products. It is not that synthetic products are "bad" as a class (though some of them may be troublesome); it is that organic products are better. And that's all that counts.
Author: Lehrer Kennedy
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