Elave - Pharmaceutical skincare products, solutions for eczema and sensitive skins.

Eczema in babies tends to develop around 2-3 months of age. It is largely hereditary based and is often referred to as Atopic Dermatitis or Atopic Eczema. There is no cure, but there are ways to help improve the condition and reduce irritation.

Make sure you have a correct diagnosis that the condition is Eczema.

Some helpful points to bear in mind to manage the baby’s condition:

• Bathing: Always use a soap free emollient product suitable for babies – why not try one of the Ovelle emollients such as Aqueous Cream, Emulsifying Ointment or Silcocks Base – or alternatively use our Elave Baby Range. Many ordinary baby bath formulas are not suitable for eczema.
• Don’t bathe or wash a baby with water only: This has been shown to dry the skin further particularly in hard water areas.

With severe eczema, bathing is paramount in fighting infection. There are specific products that have been designed to fight infected eczema. Try using a barrier cream such as Ovelle Paraffin Gel to create a protective and moisture layer to the skin.

• Moisturise: Keeping baby’s skin moisturised can help reduce discomfort. You may need to apply an emollient several times a day and certainly after bathing.
• Use special clothing: There is a great range of specific garments that soothe the skin and protect from scratching. They are of huge benefit to both baby and parent. Avoid itchy fabrics such as wool – instead go for cotton garments.
• Keep nails short: No sharp edges.
• Keep pets away: Pet hair can be a common irritant.
• Go dust free: Keep the baby’s room as dust free as possible. Limit soft toys and furnishings.
• Don’t use synthetic bedding.
• Don’t use strong detergents: When washing clothing and bedding – use a non-bio washing product. Don’t use fabric conditioner.
• Room temperature: Do not over heat baby or the room they are sleeping in.
• Diet: There is a limited evidence that suggests sensitivity to foods can cause eczema flare up. General advice when weaning is to introduce one food at a time so that you can notice any reactions. NEVER RESTRICT BABY’S DIET WITHOUT SEEKING MEDICAL ADVICE FIRST.

Between gardening, cleaning, painting and puttering around your hands get exposed to a lot. What can you to do make sure they don’t look like they’ve been through a boxing match – without gloves?!! Gentle care is the key!
Wear gloves whenever possible so your hands aren’t exposed to cleaning products, dirt and paint. Its sometimes difficult to remember especially when your in a hurry to get a job done but do try!

Always use a gentle hand wash – try to avoid soap or anti-bacterial products are often very harsh on skin. Try Elave Handwash which is gentle enough to use regularly and is formulated for dry skin conditions.

Hand cream such as Elave Intensive Cream or Elave Dermo Hand Treatment is another must have for your hands. Keep it in the bathroom, the bedroom and the kitchen, near the sink so you can use it after washing your hands.

Take care of your nails too. This starts with drinking enough water and eating a healthy diet. But here are a few more tips:

NEVER cut your cuticles. Keep them from drying out by using a good hand cream that is gentle (try Elave Dermo Hand Treatment) and hand soaks then push them gently back with a cuticle/orange stick. Once you do this if you notice any white residue you can gently rub the area to remove this, but no cutting.

When you do cut your nails or hang nails make sure the clippers and other tools are very sharp so they don’t tear as you trim. Always trim neat and clean-not too deep. Once you get them cut, try filing weekly instead of cutting. Use the file in one direction to avoid splitting and use a good quality file. If you maintain your nails this way you may not have cut them. Use gentle hand treatments to soften your skin and your cuticles.

As the temperature drops, protect your hands and fingers from the cold with gloves, otherwise it could get painful.

What is it?

Chaps are small cracks in the skin of the fingertips that can be painful especially if they’re deep.

In nearly all cases, chapping is preceded by the skin drying out due to exposure to cold air or to hot, dry air.

It is therefore most common in exposed parts of the body such as on the lips, fingers, hands and ears.

Is it serious?

Chapping isn’t a serious condition and is also not usually a sign of any internal disorder.

What can I do to avoid chapping?

• Never wash with soap – try Elave Hand Wash, have one at the sink. Soap de-fats the skin and makes it rough. For the body wash with Elave Wash or Shower Gel.
• Use an emollient cream such as Ovelle Aqueous Cream in place of soap to clean the skin.
• Keep nourishing Elave Intensive Cream in your bag, in the car or on your desk and use it hourly and after washing your hands.
• Wear gloves outside – use Elave Cream on the hands before putting on gloves – the heat will help absorb the cream and keep the hands soft and supple.
• Keep your core temperature up by wearing a hat, scarf and boots.

Just because its winter and your skin will be under layers of clothing for the next few months doesn’t mean that it should be “out of sight out of mind”! Skin and hair should be managed year-round to maintain its health.

Cold winter air can create havoc for your poor skin and hair. Harsh winter winds and freezing conditions whipping your skin daily; then moving indoors to the other extremes – where skin is exposed to central heating and open fires has an impact on all skin types, not just dry skin. Therefore extra care should be taken of your skin in winter.

Here are daily tips for looking after your own skin and all the families during the coldest season of the year.

1. Remember to use elave combined therapy – elave wash, cream and shampoo. Harsh shampoo’s can irritate sensitive skin when rinsed over the body – so although you may use elave wash on the body you may undo the effects if a non-irritant shampoo is not used
2. Carry an elave intensive cream in your handbag/baby bag or even on your office desk and apply regularly through the day.
3. It’s a good idea to keep elave cream in the car as blow heaters can be quite severe on the hands and face especially – get into a habit of applying whilst stopped in traffic!
4. Wear gloves, but apply a little amount of elave hand treatment before putting on your gloves – this way the warmth will help absorb the cream into the hands.
5. For bathing and showering use a gentle wash such as elave wash or shower to prevent further drying of the skin. Afterwards apply elave body lotion or for extra moisture use the intensive cream.
6. Although a hot bath in winter may be tempting, its actually bad for your skin, it removes natural oils from the skin. Having your bath a bit warmer than lukewarm will prevent your skin from getting dryer.
7. Elave bath oil is prefect for apply directly to the bath or a few drops applied to wet skin then patted dry works very well.
8. Always pat skin dry, never rub.
9. Limit showers to 10 – 15 minutes.
10. Have an elave handwash and 500ml intensive cream by the sink – once you’ve washed your hands, make sure you dry them thoroughly before going out into the cold. Not doing so will make your skin more vulnerable to dryness. When the 2 products are together it will be easier to remember to apply the cream immediately after washing to seal in moisture.
11. Remember to continue using a sunscreen during winter months, snow reflects UV light, so you are still at risk of sun damage.
12. Don’t forget to protect your lips, petroleum jelly yellow is perfect and doesn’t contain bleaches. It is also excellent on problem areas to seal in moisture and heal very dry skin.
13. Elave shampoo is mild shampoo for frequent use on your hair and scalp, harsh products stripe the natural oils from the hair, finish with elave hair conditioner to the ends of the hair.

Look forward to showing off beautiful healthy skin again in summer when care is taken to look after it in winter!!