Cleansers and moisturisers: The basics

Cleansers and moisturisers are used every day for maintaining our skin in good health, and while they may seem like simple products, our choice of product can have a major impact on the health and healing of our skin. A quality moisturiser should combine emollients, humectants and occludents to simulate the skin's natural approach to maintaining good hydration, while a quality cleanser should use gentle surfactants and moisturisers to cleanse the skin and leave the natural oils intact. Product pH also plays a large role in the health of our skin, with high pH products having many adverse effects on the skin's ability to stay hydrated. When recommending a cleanser or moisturiser, it's important to keep the patient's preferences in mind, as compliance will increase if the patient is happy to use the product.

[1]  J. Wiechers,et al.  Skin Moisturisation and Elasticity Originate From at Least Two Different Mechanisms , 1999, International journal of cosmetic science.

[2]  R. González-Amaro,et al.  Correlation between pH and irritant effect of cleansers marketed for dry skin , 2002, International journal of dermatology.

[3]  A. Ishida-Yamamoto,et al.  Order and disorder in corneocyte adhesion , 2011, The Journal of dermatology.

[4]  D. Margolis,et al.  Thymic stromal lymphopoietin variation, filaggrin loss of function, and the persistence of atopic dermatitis. , 2014, JAMA dermatology.

[5]  P. Matts,et al.  Influence of Aqueous Cream BP on corneocyte size, maturity, skin protease activity, protein content and transepidermal water loss , 2011, The British journal of dermatology.

[6]  D. Moore,et al.  Cleansing without compromise: the impact of cleansers on the skin barrier and the technology of mild cleansing , 2004, Dermatologic therapy.

[7]  S. Verdier-Sévrain,et al.  Skin hydration: a review on its molecular mechanisms , 2007, Journal of cosmetic dermatology.

[8]  M. Tsang,et al.  Effect of Aqueous Cream BP on human stratum corneum in vivo , 2010, The British journal of dermatology.

[9]  A. Leung,et al.  Barrier Repair Therapy in Atopic Dermatitis: An Overview , 2013, American Journal of Clinical Dermatology.

[10]  H. Korting,et al.  The concept of the acid mantle of the skin: its relevance for the choice of skin cleansers. , 1995, Dermatology.

[11]  M. Cork,et al.  The effect of aqueous cream BP on the skin barrier in volunteers with a previous history of atopic dermatitis , 2011, The British journal of dermatology.