I don't do this often, but some things have just got to be stated.
If you have Atopic Dermatitis and you're looking for a moisturizer, here's a really important tip. Make sure the moisturizer you're about to buy (and possibly pay ridiculous sums of money for), does not, I repeat does not contain Urea, or Uric Acid.
I repeat once again. Be extremely careful with products with Urea or Uric Acid. If possible, just don't use them. (Those two are not quite the same thing; but they have the same effect anyhow.)
Why such an outright negative reaction, you ask?
The answer is simple - painful experience.
Many pharmacists hear about your dry skin and recommend products that contain Uric Acid, or Urea (I'll just say Urea from now on). Even (unknowing) doctors will sometimes recommend such products. They do so because Urea, which is actually a product of urine, can do wonders for extremely dry or chapped skin.
What they (and you) may not realize is that Urea may have a devastating effect on your atopic-sore skin. A small dab of a cream containing Urea on the skin can send an atopic patient into a small, personal hell. It creates a burning sensation (sometimes very extreme) in the area that may last for several minutes. And due to the slightly delayed action of the Urea on the skin, you may manage to cover large areas with the cream before realizing the pain involved.
As far as I understand it, this burning sensation is caused when the Uric Acid meets the atopic skin, that is not just dry, but actually contains dozens of miniature cracks that may not be visible, as well as open wounds, cuts, and lesions. For all these, the Uric acid acts like alcohol or saltwater on an open wound - it burns, with a vengeance.
So be cautioned - read the label well before starting a new cream.
And with all new products for your skin, test them on your skin in a small area first, see how it reacts (even overnight), and only then move on to larger areas.
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5 comments:
I have to disagree with you on this one. My personal atopic skin is very dry most of the time, are the fastest way to make your skin look normal again and not all pealed and chapped is using a cream with lactic acid. I use Lactofil which is a body lotion and contains a very small percent of lactic acid. The percentage is important, the size of the area and sometimes the burning feeling is tolerated in small places... It's worth it, it really peals the skin. Another advantage is that you don't have to put it on wet skin, after shower, you can use it everywhere, anytime. Urea and lactic acid are different ingredients, I think that the burning feeling come from the salicylic acid peals the skin, it's usually added to products from this kind.
Hi Violet,
Thanks for the comment. I don't have that much experience with lactic acid, but I think it is slightly different from uric acid, though am not sure of the exact effects of each.
I agree that the burning is a very subjective experience and it might be possible that different people may be able to tolerate different levels of the burning sensation. But at least it's important to be aware in advance that it may occur...
It's sigal, by the way...
Here some more information:
http://www.talkeczema.com/webpages/features/feature_benefits_urea.htm
You might like these products.
They are free of color, perfume and parabens. Specially designed for the very sensitive skin of eczema/dermatitis
http://www.exederm.com
My hands have had severely chapped skin for years. I have found that there are several products that provide relief, but just about all of them leave the skin so soft that the skin absorbs water when I wash them after applying them.
Urea is a notes exception, which heals the skin but doesn't render it oversoft.
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