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Eczema is associated with an abnormality in the skin's barrier, emollient can help to hydrate the skin
Causes of eczema and itchy skin
Eczema is associated with an abnormality in the skin's barrier, which allows allergens to penetrate the skin much more easily, increasing the chance of irritation and skin inflammation. If there is depletion of stratum corneum intercellular lipid lamellae, the ratio between lipid compounds is insufficient, or if the filaggrin is deficient, it will increase the loss of water from the skin surface, resulting in microcracks of the epidermis.
Emollients help to hydrate the skin and key ingredients include humectants such as urea and glycerin to hydrate stratum corneum and effectively lock in moisture; Vaseline or Aquaphor Ointment can help reduce moisture loss. If you experience stings and itches when you apply a moisturising cream or emollient, it may be due to a wound on your skin or an allergic reaction to the product.
About one-third of adults with eczema suffer from contact allergies to emollient ingredients which include emulsifiers, preservatives and fragrances. Therefore, it is best for patients to use ointment formulation with the fewest additives; while children under the age of two should avoid emollients containing allergens such as peanuts, oats, or wheat. Studies have shown that daily use of emollients, starting from birth, reduces the relative risk of developing eczema by up to 50% in newborns [at high risk of developing eczema]. Therefore, emollients have been recommended as a method for eczema prevention.
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