Daily application of body lotion is recommended for people prone to skin dryness, or those who experience prolonged exposure to dry and cold climates. In the case of eczema, body lotion is used to extend the non-flare up duration and prevent itchiness. The main function of body lotion is to replenish skin moisture and / or prevent further loss of skin moisture, conferred by its two main base formulation ingredients humectant and emollient. While both ingredients are integral in any given body lotion formulation, the ratio of each distinguishes the function and suitability of a body lotion for use in the preferred climate condition.
Humectant is a substance that attracts water molecules from the atmosphere to bind to the skin, whereas emollient is a substance that softens the rough texture of dry skin to give a smoother appearance. Notably emollient is an oil which, when added at high concentration, turns into an occlusive agent that seals the skin with a thin oily film. Due to this mechanism of action, occlusive agents are normally used to prevent skin dehydration in cold and dry climates rather than tropical climate.
Body lotion formulations intended for tropical climate countries such as Malaysia and Indonesia prefer higher ratio of humectant over emollient due to high humidity in the environment. In contrast, high content of emollient is avoided as it will block the moisture from being absorbed into the skin, making the skin drier. Nevertheless, there is yet a ‘golden ratio’ for these 2 ingredients in body lotion for tropical climate use, due to the distinctive characteristics of different types of humectants and emollients.
Comfort Body Lotion by smith-meyerlab is a body lotion that has undergone extensive formulation process optimised for tropical climate, which ensures the skin will receive maximum moisture after application, giving a velvety feel when touched. This in turn relieves mild to severe skin dehydration issues in users who have natural or induced sensitive skin conditions. In clinical settings, Comfort Body Lotion has been used as an adjuvant for post-eczema treatment, to extend the interval between relapse of eczema flare-ups. Currently, Comfort Body Lotion is available in selected clinics throughout Peninsular Malaysia, sold in 2 sizes of 50mL and 180mL.
The article is written by Dr. Kenneth Chew (www.linkedin.com/in/drkennethchew), the key person in the research team for smith-meyerlab. His expertise is in the research and development of cosmeceutical and nutraceutical products.