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FAQ

Find answers to the most commonly asked questions about E45

Frequently asked questions

What type of skin do I have?

It’s useful to know your skin type so you can make the appropriate choices for your skincare routine.

Different skin types are genetically determined, but choosing a suitable skincare routine for your face and body is essential to care for your skin’s health.

There are five common skin types: normal, oily, dry, combination and sensitive. Blotting a clean tissue on your face in the morning is an easy way to find out your skin type.

  • A normal skin type has good circulation and there won’t be any trace of sebum (or oil) on the tissue. Normal skin is soft, with a smooth, even skin tone
  • An oily skin type can leave blots of facial oil on the tissue, particularly from the cheeks, nose and forehead. This type of skin has overactive sebaceous glands, producing more oil than necessary. Oily skin can be caused by hereditary factors, diet, hormone levels, pregnancy, unsuitable cosmetics and stress, leading to acne flare ups and enlarged pores. It’s important to regularly clean the skin thoroughly with gentle, soap-free cleansers
  • A dry skin type has a low level of sebum and does not maintain oil easily. Dry skin is often flaky and feels tight after being wiped. Gentle cleansing and a moisturising emollient for dry skin is essential to relieve that tight, uncomfortable feeling. It may be necessary to adjust your dry skin emollient for the changing seasons
  • With a combination skin type, oil is produced around the T-zone of the nose and forehead but not on the cheeks, mouth and eye areas. The best skincare for combination skin can involve treating each region differently
  • Having a sensitive skin type can mean different things to different people. Sensitive skin can become inflamed and irritated easily. It’s important to choose the appropriate skincare for sensitive skin as many cosmetic products contain ingredients that can cause an adverse reaction

What are suitable skincare products for my skin?

There is no ‘best’ when it comes to skincare products – everybody’s skin is different. Different people’s skin will react to skincare products differently, and you might prefer to use certain types of products at certain times of the day or year.

However, there are some types of products which work well for many people. Emollients are a key product that can usually be built into your skincare routine. Not only do they help restore moisture to dry skin, they also help form a barrier over your skin to help keep moisture in and protect your skin from irritants.

A complete skincare routine is most effective when your emollient cream is used alongside soap-substitute products, as normal soap products can make your skin more dry.

What is eczema? What’s the difference between eczema and dermatitis?

The terms ‘eczema’ and ‘dermatitis’ are often used interchangeably by GPs and pharmacists to describe a group of common inflammatory skin conditions where areas of skin can become dry, red, rough and blistered. This can result in bleeding. There are lots of factors which might play a part in developing these conditions.

I’ve seen that the product I’ve been considering has wool fat (lanolin) in it – but I’ve heard bad things about lanolin.

Lanolin (wool fat) is used in lots of emollient products. The oils in lanolin have a similar chemical composition to those found in your skin and can help your skin retain water.

Lanolin is derived from sheep’s wool, where it acts as a natural water repellent. Many decades ago there was an issue with Lanolin because it wasn’t sufficiently purified, which caused some people to be sensitive to creams that included the ingredient.

Still, evidence has shown that very few people in the normal population are sensitive to Lanolin. Certain people can be allergic to Lanolin, but they often have a related allergy e.g. people who are allergic to wool.

Some creams, including E45, contain an ingredient called Medilan™. This is a purified form of Lanolin with the same moisturising properties – but it’s also a hypoallergenic, medical-grade Lanolin, which means it’s less likely to cause an allergic reaction.

What if my dry skin is being caused by an allergy?

In many cases of dry skin, it’s not an allergy that’s causing the condition, but it’s always best to consult with a healthcare professional who can provide you with advice about your skin condition.

Contact eczema is caused by a reaction to a material in contact with the skin. The first contact with this material doesn’t always lead to an allergy: sometimes you can touch the same thing for many months or years without having a reaction.

In the majority of patients diet does not appear to aggravate skin conditions.

In a few patients, diet may aggravate eczema – these patients tend to be under three years of age and have moderate to severe eczema, which may be associated with certain problems, such as with breathing or the bowels.

For all of the above cases it’s best to get advice from a healthcare professional.

How often should emollients be used?

For eczema sufferers it’s important to use emollients as directed on the pack, using around 250-500g of emollient per week with at least 30 minutes between application. E45 Cream is to be applied to the affected area 2 or 3 times daily.

Is it contagious?

Some dry skin conditions like eczema aren’t contagious – you can’t catch eczema from being in contact with someone who has it.

If you aren’t sure what’s affecting your skin, talk to a doctor or pharmacist.

What is Cream E45 used for?

Cream E45 brings relief to a wide range of dry skin conditions including flaking skin. It also helps soften rough, hard skin on other parts of the body. Cream E45 reduces skin dryness in conditions such as eczema.

Can skin conditions be hereditary? If so can the risk be reduced?

Some skin conditions have an element of genetics, which means they can run in families. This can help explain why some people are more prone to them than others.

It’s very hard to predict whether skin conditions will be passed onto children. You can’t control the genes you pass on, so there isn’t anything you can do to control whether your child will have a skin condition if you have one.

How does Cream E45 work?

Cream E45 contains three active ingredients white soft paraffin, liquid paraffin and lanolin, which have emollient and occlusive properties. Emollients generally soften the skin and make it smooth, and Occlusives form a layer on the skin surface, and help to prevent water loss.

What can make dry skin worse and how can this be improved?

Dry skin can become more irritated for many reasons. It can be affected by your home or office environment, as well as external factors – like the weather or the season. Effects of some conditions can be mitigated by using a complete skincare routine, but it can be hard to control your skin’s reaction to triggers like the weather.

Can I use Cream E45 on my children?

Yes, you can. Cream E45 can be used every day by the whole family.

Can I use E45 on my tattoo?

Dermatological E45 cream can be used to reduce skin dryness. Depending on your specific situation, please consult the healthcare professionals.

Can I use E45 on my face?

Dermatological E45 cream can be used on face to reduce skin dryness.

Can I use dermatological E45 cream when pregnant?

Please consult the healthcare professionals.

Is E45 good for sunburn?

Dermatological E45 cream brings relief to a wide range of skin conditions including minor sunburn. Depending on your specific sunburn situation, please consult the healthcare professionals.

Is E45 good for dry skin?

Yes. E45 is a brand dedicated to dry skin care.

The dermatological E45 cream brings relief to a wide range of dry skin conditions including flaking skin. It also helps soften rough, hard skin. It reduces skin dryness in conditions such as eczema.

The E45 moisturising lotion improves extremely dry skin in just 2 weeks. It can be used all over your body, face and hands to give long-lasting care for dry and sensitive skin.

The E45 emollient shower cream is a soap free, non drying and non foaming gentle cleansing shower wash for sensitive and very dry skin.

Is lanolin bad for your skin?

Lanolin is used in many emollient products.

Lanolin is derived from sheep’s wool, where it acts as a natural repellent. Many decades ago there was an issue with lanolin because it wasn’t sufficiently purified, which caused some people to be sensitive to creams that included the ingredient.

Dermatological E45 cream contains a purified form of lanolin with the same moisturising properties – but it’s also hypoallergenic, medical-grade lanolin, which means it’s less likely to cause an allergic reaction.