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My EPIMAX® Evening Routine

A 7-step evening routine to help manage your symptoms of eczema and get a good night’s sleep. Our curated routine is filled with tips to help keep dry skin and flare-ups at bay.

When applying any emollient, always read the label and avoid contact with eyes.

Step 1 – Hydrating the skin inside out^1,2

Hydrating the body from the inside is important for your skin’s overall health.

Make sure to drink plenty of water with your evening meal (and at least 6-8 glasses throughout the day!).

People with eczema have dry skin and are susceptible to weaker skin barrier function. Therefore, drinking water to keep the body and skin hydrated is recommended.

Step 2 – A relaxing EPIMAX® bath³

Adding an EPIMAX® Ointment to your evening bath can be very comforting on dry skin conditions. The ointments can prevent skin from drying by creating a thin film over the skin, inhibiting moisture loss.

If you’re more of a shower person, try substituting your shower gel for an EPIMAX® cream or gel.

Don’t forget-hot water can dry out your skin so turn that water temperature down a bit!

Step 3 – Materials matter!^4,5

The materials of your pyjamas and bedding play an important role in helping to keep your skin comfortable. Materials such as wool and polyester could trigger your eczema symptoms. Opting for a fabric like cotton will keep you cool and comfortable.

Just as important, bear in mind that the products you use to wash these items can be irritating on your skin. It may help to use natural, fragrance-free washing detergents.

Step 4 – Your evening skincare routine

Finding a good skincare routine can be very helpful for keeping symptoms at bay.

Applying your preferred emollient at night allows the product to work undisturbed for hours.

Try using the EPIMAX® Eyelid Ointment just before bed to allow it hours of uninterrupted time to soothe, hydrate and comfort your eyelids.

Step 5 – Be prepared^6,7

Planning for the next day the evening before could avoid unnecessary flare ups.

When you’re rushing, stressed and flustered your eczema symptoms could be provoked due to a spike in your stress hormones which can inflame the skin.

Sweating as a result of rushing can also irritate eczema-prone skin. Plan in advance for a calmer and flare-free morning.

Step 6 – No scents allowed^8,9

While you’re relaxing and winding down in the evening, avoid any scented products such as candles, air fresheners and room sprays. The synthetic chemicals in these products could irritate your skin.

Step 7 – Sleep, sleep and more sleep^10,11

Sleep is important for your overall skin health. While you sleep, your skin regenerates and mends. Disturbed sleep will interfere with the skin’s ability to mend broken skin and scratches.

Although it can be hard, try and get 7-9 hours a night to feel all the benefits of a good night’s sleep.

References

Mel’s Top 6 Skin Care Tips – Eczema Treatment and Care (Accessed November 2023)

Water, drinks and hydration – NHS (www.nhs.uk)(Accessed November 2023)

Ointment – Epimax (Accessed November 2023)

Why eczema flares at night and how to deal with it (allergycliniclondon.co.uk) (Accessed November 2023)

Laundry Detergent Sensitivity and Eczema | MyEczemaTeam (Accessed November 2023)

Stress and eczema | National Eczema Society (Accessed November 2023)

How to exercise safely with eczema | National Eczema Association (Accessed November 2023)

Fragrance and Perfume Allergy | Products and Contact Dermatitis (nationaleczema.org) (Accessed November 2023)

Avoid a Christmas Eczema Flare – Tips from the experts! (irishskin.ie) (Accessed November 2023)

The Truth About What Your Skin Really Does at Night (byrdie.com) (Accessed November 2023)

Does a lack of sleep affect eczema? (avogel.co.uk) (Accessed November 2023)

EPIMAX^® Eyelid Ointment

A soothing moisturiser to help relieve eyelids that are dry, itchy, red, and flaky. Soothe, hydrate and comfort dry skin around the delicate eye area.

EPIMAX^® Moisturising Cream

Your daily, all-purpose replenishing moisturiser to soothe and relieve dry skin. Keep skin comfortable by applying every day to soften, protect and moisturise.

EPIMAX^® Original Cream

Your everyday emollient to keep your skin hydrated and comfortable. Apply on-the-go to gently relieve your dry skin symptoms and lock in moisture.

EPIMAX^® Oatmeal Cream

Smooth into dry and sensitive skin. The colloidal oatmeal moisturises to protect against irritants, leaving the skin feeling soft and comfortable.

EPIMAX^® ExCetra Cream

Ideal for use as a body wash or moisturiser. It has a high lipid content to help retain moisture in the skin.

EPIMAX^® Isomol Gel

The hydro-gel formula means that you’ll get all the comfort of a cream, balanced with the more intensive relief that an ointment gives.

EPIMAX^® Ointment

Apply to very dry skin as an overnight treatment or during the day, for intensive relief, or whenever needed for extra hydration.

EPIMAX^® Paraffin-free Ointment

Ideal if you have a skin sensitivity to paraffin. This ointment provides intensive, long-lasting relief for very dry skin.

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Top tips for baby skin care

I’m a parent, what can I do to help my child with a dry skin condition?

You should always consult your GP or health visitor if you have any concerns about the health of your baby or child or think they may have a dry skin condition.

In the UK, eczema affects up to 20% of children and up to 3% of adults¹. Psoriasis affects between 2% and 3% of the UK population (an estimate of up to 1.8 million people)². Approximately 4% of all skin conditions diagnosed in children under 16 are attributed to psoriasis³.

How do I know if my baby or child has a dry skin condition?⁴

Babies often get red, scaly skin known as eczema. The symptoms are patches of red, dry and itchy skin on the face or behind the ears, and in the creases of the neck knees and elbows. With psoriasis, there may be plaques on the skin that are red, itchy and sore, with white or silvery scales. It can occur anywhere on the body, but psoriasis on the palms and soles, or in areas where skin touches skin is usually a different type².

How can I help to soothe the dry skin condition?

Remember to consult a doctor or health care professional for advice on the treatment and management of your child’s skin condition. We’ve collated some information from the NHS below that may help:

Eczema⁴

Apply an unperfumed moisturiser (also known as an emollient) to the affected areas by smoothing into the skin several times a day for example, when you feed or change your baby to keep the skin hydrated
Avoid using soap, baby bath and bubble bath as these can dry or irritate the skin. Instead use a soap substitute that will help to keep the skin moisturised and won’t strip the skin’s natural barrier
Try to keep your child’s bedroom as cool as possible, as if they get hot then this can make their eczema worse
Try to identify and avoid anything that may be irritating their skin, such as soap powder, animals and chemical sprays

Psoriasis³

There are many different treatments available for psoriasis, it is best to speak with your doctor about the right one for your baby
Keep the skin comfortable by using an emollient to regularly moisturise it

For more information please visit the Education Epicentre.

References

Dry skin in Winter

In this article, we will be taking a look at what it is like to have dry skin, or a dry skin condition in the winter months. For people with eczema and psoriasis, winter can be a challenging time to manage symptoms and prevent flare-ups^1,2.

Skin can become dry, red and irritated by things like a drop in temperature, central heating, wind, and low humidity³. Cold air tightens the skin’s pores⁴, this reduces the naturally occurring oil known as sebum, which acts as a protective layer and traps moisture next to the skin⁵. These seasonal changes can be enough to cause increased flare-ups for those with dry skin conditions⁶. Problematic areas of the body may be the hands and face that are exposed to the elements.

Here we share our tips for the things you can do during this time to minimize flare-ups and keep your skin as comfortable as possible.

As with any emollient, always read the label.

Listen to your skin and adapt your routine
Depending on your skin’s needs you may need to:

Apply your emollient more regularly to keep your skin moisturised and your symptoms in check
We’d recommend using a body wash, like EPIMAX^® ExCetra Cream (all year round) so you don’t strip your skin’s natural, protective barrier
Consider adding a new product into your usual routine that may deliver a bigger hydration boost, like a gel or ointment if you usually use a cream formulation

Tips to help manage your symptoms

Wear gloves when you are outside to help protect your hands from the cold
Turn the heating down when you are indoors and put on extra layers of clothing
Limit your exposure to hot and dry environments like air-conditioned rooms or cars, or rooms containing open fires or wood burning stoves as they can further dry out the skin
Drink plenty of water during the day to help keep your skin hydrated
Think about the fabric you wear; some people find fabrics like silk to be less irritating on the skin⁷
Avoid taking hot baths and showers, hot water strips the natural oils from the skin

Everyone’s skin is different, which means that the product that works for you is unique to you. It’s important that you find a product that works for you, your symptoms and that fits around your lifestyle. Visit our product page to find a winter skincare moisturiser.