What
to do if you have red, itchy skin, but don’t like to use steroid?
Many people will have dry, itchy skin in the winter. Some
may even develop redness and rash. Although topical steroid can be very
effective to relieve inflammation, many patients ask us what they can do to
treat their symptoms without using topical steroids. Here are some practical
tips:
Use a moisturizer –
make sure you use a non-fragranced cream such as:
Cetaphil Moisturizing Cream 453g,
member price $16.39 at Custom Care Pharmacy
Cerave moisturizing cream 453g,
member price $15.99 at Custom Care Pharmacy
Avoid using fragranced lotion as some contains an alcohol
base which leads to dry skin and the fragrance can cause irritation. Lactic
acid lotion, such as Lac-Hydrin, or Uric Acid cream, such as Uremol moisturizing
cream, can relieve skin dryness by increasing the amount of water in the skin.
However, if the skin is broken (i.e. open wound from scratching), there could
be some stinging upon application.
Uremol 10 moisturizing cream 100g,
member price $7.99 at Custom Care Pharmacy
Lac-hydrin 225mL, member price
$7.69 at Custom Care Pharmacy
At Custom Care
Pharmacy, we can custom make preservative-free and fragrance-free moisturizer
for severe dry skin. We use a combination of effective and natural ingredients
such as Shea butter and Glycerin to help your skin retain moisture. You can
also choose to add vitamin E to your moisturizer. Prices start at $8.99! call us at 905-305-0111
Use a mild cleanser
– most bar soaps will make the skin dry and itchy after a shower. Choose bar
soaps that are made for sensitive skin or use a gentle cleanser (body wash).
Cetaphil Gentle Cleanser 500mL,
member price $12.09 at Custom Care Pharmacy
Cetaphil Gentle Cleansing bar,
member price $3.89 at Custom Care Pharmacy
Aveeno Eczema Care Body Wash
295mL, member price $8.58 at Custom Care Pharmacy
Use a dye-free and
perfume-free detergent – the perfume and dye residues in clothing can
sometimes irritate skin and lead to redness, itchiness and rash. This is
especially important for people with sensitive skin and children.
Use a humidifier in
the room – This can help reduce the loss of moisture from your skin and reduce itchiness from dry skin.
In some cases, you may still need to use topical steroid as
prescribed by your doctor. You can
minimize the side effects of topical steroid (such as thinning of the skin) by
applying just a thin layer on the skin and using it no more than 2-3 times
daily or as indicated. Once the inflammatory symptoms are relieved, stop using
the topical steroid and use a non-medicated moisturizer instead.
