Many of us have complained since the start of confinement: our skin is dry. Tugging or even itching makes confinement even more difficult. For some, sometimes disappeared skin diseases resurface. Here are some tips to reduce these annoyances.
Use less harsh soaps
In the shower, use oils or extra-rich breads for washing. And for the hands, real Marseille soap! "Watch out for brands that boast their artisanal side but which actually contain very allergenic products," warns Catherine Oliveres-Ghouti, dermatologist in Paris.
"It is recommended that patients use soaps without soap, suitable for atopic skin or cleansing oils, always favoring products without perfume", recalls for its part the French Association of Eczema, which represents affected patients by atopic dermatitis, chronic hand eczema or contact eczema.
Less frequent, less hot showers
"A shower every other day is more than enough," says Nadine Gauzeran, dermatologist in Bois-Colombes (Hauts-de-Seine). And above all, no bubble baths. "This is the worst for dry skin. The duration of baths should generally be reduced. Normally the maximum time is ten minutes at 37 degrees. But hey, nobody does it… ”smiles Annick Barbaud, head of the dermatology and allergology department at the Tenon hospital in Paris and member of the French Dermatology Society.
And above all, hydrate!
It is the only remedy for dry skin. “We all spend a fair amount of time in front of the TV, we might as well take the opportunity to put on a well-hydrating cream. There are several, which can be found in pharmacies or drugstores, such as homeoplasmin, Bepanthen or Cicalfate. Commercially available moisturizers are also effective, ”advises Catherine Oliveres-Ghouti.
Another tip for the hands: coat them with moisturizer and put on gloves (cleaning, for example) over them. "The cream will penetrate better under the skin and you can continue to do things at the same time," says Nadine Gauzeran.