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October 19, 2010 | Eczema cream meant to soothe 'makes the condition worse' |
London:A cheap emollient cream meant to soothe the irritated skin of eczema sufferers may actually worsen their condition. According to tests, a detergent contained in the aqueous
cream BP thins the skin and actually causes irritation. Although aqueous cream
has been prescribed for millions of sufferers from childhood, it is the first
time research has been carried out on an ingredient called sodium lauryl sulphate
(SLS). Earlier, it was thought the 'stinging' sensation affecting half of users
was due to a preservative or antiseptic in the cream. In a study by Bath University
researchers, aqueous cream reduced the thickness of healthy skin in volunteers
by more than 10 per cent in just four weeks and water loss was increased. Professor
Richard Guy, professor of pharmaceutical sciences at Bath, said the remedy was
likely to aggravate the dry, itchy rashes that plague eczema sufferers. "The skin
has a protective barrier layer of lipids, around one eighth the thickness of a
sheet of paper, that stops chemicals from getting into the body and keeps moisture
in," the Daily Mail quoted him as saying. "SLS is a detergent used to mix oils
into water-based moisturisation creams to give a nice creamy texture. It's also
used widely in shower gels and other cosmetics. "Our study has found that rubbing
aqueous cream containing SLS into the skin thins this protective barrier, making
the skin more susceptible to irritation by chemicals. So to use this cream on
eczemous skin, which is already thin and vulnerable to irritation, is likely to
make the condition even worse," he added. The study was published in the British
Journal of Dermatology.
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