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Every person with AD or dry skin knows how demanding daily skin care can be – unfortunately, there are no shortcuts in this case. Find out why regular skin care is so important and what cosmetics to choose to achieve the best results.
ABC of atopic dermatitis
Atopic dermatitis, AD for short, is a chronic, recurrent disease that often interferes with everyday functioning. The etiology of AD is complex and involves an interaction between genes, the environment, the immune system, and impairment of the skin barrier. According to epidemiological data, every fifth child and every twentieth adult suffers from atopic dermatitis, and the number of patients is still growing. [1]
Atopic dermatitis is characterized by a general dryness of the skin, itching, peeling of the skin, and rough lesions that can occur all over the body. From a medical point of view, the skin of a patient suffering from AD is deficient in filaggrin – a protein responsible for the adhesion of cells in the surface layer of the skin. Atopic skin is also poor in lipids, which provide protection against harmful external factors – frost or solar radiation. [2]
One of the most troublesome symptoms faced by people with atopic dermatitis is itching, provoking excessive scratching and, consequently, damage to the epidermis, which can lead to bacterial infection. Controlling itching is the most important task in treating AD. Scratching stimulates the nerve endings in the skin and causes inflammation in the area, which turns into a visible rash and causes further itching. Controlling itching is key to controlling flare-ups of atopic dermatitis. [3]
To the rescue of dry skin
Dry skin usually signals that our epidermal barrier has deteriorated or damaged. Moreover, dry skin is not able to protect itself from harmful environmental factors: wind, frost or dry air. There are many causes of dry skin – improper cleansing, too much sun exposure or the use of alcohol-based products sometimes damage the skin’s protective barrier. Sometimes dry skin can be a symptom of some diseases, e.g. in cancer treatment or other medical treatments. The solution is to strengthen the basic protective barrier of the skin with appropriate dermocosmetics. [4]
Regularity is the key to good treatment results
Due to the severity of the symptoms of atopic dermatitis, the current recommendations emphasize prevention and early treatment. The treatment of atopic dermatitis is based on a combination of four actions. This:
- proper skin care and prevention of AD recurrence,
- using topical anti-inflammatory drugs as directed by your doctor to suppress the inflammatory response,
- itching control
- preventing infections.
Remember that the diagnosis of atopic dermatitis is only the first step – it is up to the patient whether the therapy will be effective. That is why it is so important to follow the doctor’s instructions one hundred percent, regular skin care with appropriate dermocosmetics and regularity. It should be remembered that the period of remission, when the disease calms down and ceases to be troublesome, does not mean a cure. For the treatment of atopic dermatitis to be effective, it must not be neglected. The skin takes time to rebuild – although daily care can be difficult at first, it is worth believing that patience and discipline are the basis of success. In order to help patients with AD to develop regularity and regularity in following the doctor’s recommendations, a special program – 30 steps was created.
Similarly, in the case of sensitive, dry and problematic skin – no dermocosmetics will work if it is used irregularly. Restoring the hydration and protective functions of the skin is a long-term process that requires a lot of regularity on the part of the patient and consistency. Most healthy habits take at least 30 days to develop before they become an obvious part of our lives. Sometimes, caring for dry skin may require a lot of effort, but there are no shortcuts. The sooner you start taking care of your skin, the better results you’ll see in the future.
Are you looking for suitable preparations for dry and atopic skin? Bet on proven solutions
The care of dry and atopic skin should begin with an appropriate, gentle cleansing. If you have AD, avoid drying soaps and strong detergents. The average pH of the soap is around 9, and the normal pH of the skin is 4 to 5. Because of this difference, the soap raises the skin’s pH to an undesirable level and may worsen dryness and the symptoms of atopic dermatitis. [5] Atoderm Huile de douche, an oil for washing the skin, and Atoderm Intensive Gel moussant – a delicate cleansing gel, will work for daily cleansing of dry and atopic skin. These products were created for the daily care of very dry and sensitive atopic skin – they gently cleanse, soothe the feeling of discomfort and irritation, and help to biologically strengthen the skin barrier.
Vitamin PP contained in the Atoderm Intensive Gel moussant cleansing gel permanently rebuilds the protective barrier of atopic, very dry and irritated skin by increasing the synthesis of intercellular lipids, and copper sulphate and zinc sulphate have antiseptic properties and limit the development of pathogenic bacterial flora. The skin is protected against unfavorable external factors and the penetration of golden staphylococcus. Atoderm Intensive Gel moussant soothes the feeling of discomfort and irritation and helps to biologically strengthen the skin barrier.
On the other hand, Atoderm Huile de douche cleansing oil is a product that effectively cleanses the skin without damaging its protective barrier, intensively moisturizes – up to 24 hours – and protects against harmful external factors. The plant biolipids contained in the composition soothe the feeling of tightness, restore and strengthen the skin’s protective barrier, and the SKIN BARRIER THERAPY ™ patent prevents the adhesion of bacteria responsible for skin irritation.
The second element of the daily care of atopic skin should be the use of emollients, not only during relapses. Proper skin care will ensure that you gain control over atopic dermatitis. Emollients should be applied to the skin preferably at least two or three times a day, as needed. In response to the needs of people with AZS, Atoderm Intensive Baume and a lighter version of Atoderm Intensive gel-crème were created.
Atoderm Intensive Baume is an ultra-healing emollient lotion designed for the care of dry and atopic skin. Thanks to the active substance PEA (biomimetic fatty acid amide) with antipruritic properties, it instantly relieves, reduces the feeling of scratching, soothes irritations and permanently rebuilds the skin barrier. In addition, the LIPIGENIUM complex contained in the cosmetic, composed of biolipids naturally present in the epidermis, permanently rebuilds the skin barrier through biological stimulation of the synthesis of lipids and proteins that create intercellular cement. It restores skin comfort, extending the periods between the irritation phases, and thus improves the quality of life of a person with AD.
In the fight against dry skin, Atoderm Crème – a nourishing cream for normal to dry skin, intended for daily body care – will work. The cream moisturizes, softens and restores comfort for a long time from the very first use. Thanks to nourishing and rebuilding ingredients, Atoderm Crème strengthens the epidermal barrier, which reduces the penetration of irritating factors, and the complex contained in it increases the level of skin hydration. When looking for a cosmetic for skin dried by some medical treatments or chronic diseases, it is worth paying attention to Atoderm Xereane balm – it rebuilds the skin barrier, intensively nourishes and quickly soothes discomfort without irritating even very sensitive skin.