Now’s the time of yr when our always-dry areas get even drier, and our elbows are one of many largest perpetrators. Each time Sharleen St. Surin-Lord, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in Washington, DC, has a affected person managing dry, cracked elbows, she at all times tells them to slather on the Eczema Remedy Itch Reduction Balm from Aveeno.
“It’s made with 4 key elements—oat, glycerine, ceramides, and dimethicone,” says Dr. St. Surin-Lord. These elements work time beyond regulation to appease discomfort, present much-needed moisture, and seal in all that goodness into your pores and skin whereas holding dry air out. Although the system is designed to calm eczema flare-ups, it may be repurposed to deal with just about any kind of extra-dry pores and skin.
The star of the Aveeno Eczema Remedy Itch Reduction Balm ($31) system is none aside from derm-beloved colloidal oatmeal, an ingredient you’ll discover in quite a lot of Aveeno merchandise due to its capacity to its unparalleled repute for soothing and softening pores and skin. It types a protecting and hydrating seal over the floor of the pores and skin and comprises anti-inflammatory avenanthremides to assist calm any irritation.
Subsequent up is glycerin, aka the “unsung hero of winter pores and skin hydration, which provides the balm its buttery texture. It’s a humectant, which suggests it attracts moisture into the pores and skin to provide it a tall drink of hydration. Then, there are ceramides, that are like “the cement holds the keratinocytes, or pores and skin cells, collectively to keep away from lack of moisture,” says Dr. St. Surin-Lord. Lastly, the system consists of dimethicone, a silicone that seals within the moisture your elbows must heal from their dry, cracked state (and sure—silicones are completely protected to make use of topically).
Your greatest guess for smoothing and soothing the pores and skin in your elbows is to start out with some in-shower mild exfoliation earlier than making use of the balm. “Exfoliants, like glycolic acid or one other AHA, or a fruit enzyme, like papaya or pineapple, are very useful to minimize current lifeless cell buildup,” board-certified dermatologist Loretta Ciraldo, MD, beforehand advised Effectively+Good. “Therapeutic massage it into your elbows and depart it on for a number of minutes earlier than washing it off in order that the enzymes can work to dislodge the lifeless cells on the floor.”
Then, go forward and slather on the Aveeno Eczema Remedy Itch Reduction Balm (which you need to use a couple of times a day—simply observe that you simply don’t need to exfoliate each time!). Professional tip: Put it on proper after you get out of the bathe in order that it could possibly sink in deeper (enjoyable reality: moisturizing elements penetrate higher on moist pores and skin) and seal in no matter water is left in your pores and skin. Your elbows will likely be endlessly grateful.
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