Eczema, psoriasis, dermatitis and many other conditions associated with dry, tight, itchy and uncomfortable skin are increasingly common and frustrating. These skin conditions are easily aggravated and quickly worsen when the wrong products are used.
When living with any dry skin condition, it is imperative to keep the skin hydrated, moisturised and sealed – all at once. This is necessary when maintaining a healthy skin barrier. Although there are many creams and treatments available on the market, there is one cream that has been a customer favourite for decades.
E45 (£7.80 for a massive pot on Amazon) is a cosmetic and medicinal, fragrance-free cream formulated to soothe and restore the skin. Effective on sunburn, chapped skin and rashes, E45 maintains its customer status due to its simplistic ingredient list containing two forms of highly effective paraffin and lanolin. The main functions of the cream are to protect, soften and increase the skins flexibility.
Exactly what makes E45 cult?
Created in 1952, E45 was initially only available in hospitals. Due to increased demands and successful results, the cream was later expanded to retail. While many cosmetic remedies have seen their time, E45 cream consistently flies off the shelves because it delivers. With dry skin in mind, E45 is one of the most sought after creams and dry skin is more often than not, also extremely dehydrated. Dehydration to the skin occurs when there is excessive trans-epidermal water loss and the skin loses its ability to hold moisture. This is exemplified through fine lines and textured skin. Washing the skin too frequently, using very drying products or living in cold and harsh climates are some of the causes of this.
As E45 is an emollient, it works to seal in the moisture. Paraffin creates a breathable and hypoallergenic layer over damaged skin to protect it from potential irritants whilst lanolin heals and softens the top layers. Although it can be used alone, for extreme cases of dehydration to the skin, a hydrating serum or lightweight moisturiser can be used prior to E45. Alternatively, the effectiveness of E45 doubles when applied on skin that is still slightly damp, so to maximise efficiency, can be applied fresh out of the shower as this is when bare skin is most permeable. When all of the moisture is sealed in, the skin can then work to repair itself.
People with sensitive skin can expect immediate relief from the E45 cream as the simple formulation consisting of anti-inflammatory ingredients rapidly soothes inflamed skin and prevents further flare ups. As foaming cleansers and soaps are also potential irritants, the good news is that this cream doubles as an extremely gentle face cleanser!
