Winter skincare #BlogOnEpaderm

 

Last week's weather definitely feels wintery - in the mornings when we open up the curtains and peek at the world outside, the tiles on the kitchen roof below our windows look silvery and sparkly. The plants in the garden are covered with a thin layer of ice crystals, as if dipped in sugar icing. All very pretty to look at, but it also means the heating is on most time of the day to keep the damp away.

Frosty, cold weather with blustery winds + heating and dry air indoors = a recipe for dry skin. My boys have always had delicate skin, which is affected by the cold in late autumn and winter. On top of that, with all the extra washing of hands and chemicals from hand sanitisers during the current pandemic, the hands appear dry, chapped and red.

Many people believe in the power of humidifiers. In the past I had a digital humidifier, but haven't noticed any difference after using it for a while. Perhaps we needed one in each room to see any effects?!

Drinking plenty of water to keep skin more supple is a good idea, and thankfully, my guys drink water without any issues. Some people need to be persuaded to drink more water (looking at you, Mum!). If you find it hard to drink plain water, adding a lemon slice or grated ginger and a few berries might entice you to increase your water intake.

Most crucial though is to use a good moisturiser on a regular basis. Keep a good hand cream or moisturiser by the front door, so that you won't forget to apply it before you go out. Every morning, just before the school run, I offer a cream to my sons. A quick rub over the hands, and we're ready to brave the elements.

And when a simple moisturiser doesn't quite do the job, then send in the cavalry.

Epaderm range is suitable for kids of all ages. It is fragrance, colouring and SLS free and provides moisturisation for eczema, psorias and dry skin. It comes in different sizes - 50g, 150g and 500g pump bottles. I prefer to buy smaller bottles, and keep two in the house, one by the front door and one in the bathroom, for the evening application. 

Our bedtime routine - brush teeth, wash and dry hands, apply the moisturiser and then read in bed before switching off the lights.

Epaderm is recommended by doctors, and is the no.1 prescribed ointment in the UK (not in our clinic, we have never had it on prescription, but it is available in Boots, where we buy it).

Epaderm Cream could be applied in the morning and used throughout the day, as it is a lighter cream. Use it as a skin moisturiser and even skin cleanser. It is light and quickly absorbed, leaving the skin softer and smoother. 

For the night you might use the heavier ointment. If your child tolerates gloves, apply the ointment liberally and leave the gloves on overnight. You can also add it to a bath instead of soap and bath bubbles. The ointment is ideally suited for more affected areas of skin, prone to eczema. 

A few years ago, when my son's eczema has flared up after the school swimming lessons, and the skin on his body, especially legs and arms, was looking inflamed red, we used the ointment rather than the cream. We have been to the GP a few times, but the prescription medication didn't quite do the job. 

This year, the eczema is thankfully kept at bay. But as mentioned earlier on in the post the winter cold and frequent washing of hands at home and in school have stripped the delicate skin of the protective layers, and they began to look pretty sore. After a couple of weeks of applying the cream twice daily, we can notice the difference, the skin on my son's hands looks much better. This emollient is effective. You only need a small amount of cream each time. 

Have you tried Epaderm range? Did you see the difference it makes on your child's skin?

Disclosure:

This post is written as part of the Epaderm Blogger Ambassador Competition.