Protecting and repairing your skin’s natural barrier is essential in the management of skin flares for conditions such as eczema and psoriasis.
What is the Skin Barrier?
The skin barrier is the outermost layer of your skin and the first line of defence against infection and harmful bacteria.
However, this natural barrier can easily be damaged, resulting in skin dryness, inflammation and itching. Once the barrier is damaged it can cause skin to flare more easily, resulting in further damage being caused from scratching. So it’s essential to keep your skin barrier strong and healthy.
Surprising ways to protect your skin barrier
- Avoid products containing SLS/SLES
SLS (Sodium Laurel Sulphate) or SLES (Sodium Laureth Sulphate) are inexpensive lathering ingredients which are found in most shower gels and bubble baths. These ingredients are best avoided if you suffer with eczema as they can leave you feeling dry, tight and itchy. Instead, try using products such as Westlab Dead Sea Bath & Shower gel, which is free from SLS/SLES and leaves skin feeling soft, comfortable and protected.
- Stay safe when using Topical Corticosteroids
In September 2021 the MHRA published a yellow card review which recognised that topical corticosteroids can result in skin addiction and Topical Steroid Withdrawal (TSW).
The guidelines for topical corticosteroids is that they should be used short-term only to manage skin flares. Using them for more than the recommended two weeks at a time causes cause skin barrier disruption, which can result in withdrawal dermatitis and rebound flares when treatment is stopped.
To learn more about safe use of skin steroids and how to recognise symptoms of Topical Steroid Withdrawal visit www.westlabsalts.co.uk/TSW
- Use Dead Sea Salts and Oatmeal in your bath
Dead Sea salt has been found in many studies to help improve skin barrier function and skin hydration due to its unique blend of minerals, including magnesium, potassium and calcium. Oatmeal is renowned for its skin barrier protecting properties thanks to its natural abundance of skin restoring beta glucans. Dead Sea Salt is rich in Magnesium and Potassium, to help soothe and repair skin barrier damage.
Westlab Skin Repair Bath Salts are a unique blend of Dead Sea Salts with Colloidal Oatmeal, which help calm irritation, itching and redness during a flare. They also help restore and repair the skin barrier to help better support your skin’s natural healing process.
Adding Westlab Skin Repair Bath Salts to your bath 2-3 times a week helps to protect your skin, leaving it feeling healthy, soft, comfortable, and protected.
To learn helpful tips and advice for managing skin conditions naturally visit:
https://westlabsalts.co.uk/pages/caring-for-your-skin
