Having Dry Skin is not a thing you should underestimate. Even though it’s usually not that severe, it can cause discomfort, bleeding, redness, and peeling. And these are things you probably would like to avoid in your life.

You can take care of your skin with just a few small adjustments in the way you shower, clean your skin, and use certain cosmetics. But if it turns out that your skin demands more care, your doctor may recommend using topical ointments, like Betamethasone cream.

But before you apply it on your skin, you need to know how to do it properly. In the article below, you’ll find information on how topical emollients will help you relieve your dry skin.

When to Use Topical Medications?

Before you learn how to apply one properly, you should know when to use a cream, ointment, or other topical medicament types. You also ought to remember that they come in four different strengths: mild, moderate, potent, and very potent.

And when to use them? Doctors usually recommend topical moisturizers to ease the symptoms of such conditions as dry skin, atopic eczema, contact dermatitis, or psoriasis. The type of medication and its strength will vary depending on how severe your illness is.

But to make sure a prescribed ointment will work, you need to know how to use it correctly.

How to Apply?

The word “topical” comes from the Greek “topikos,” which stands for: of a place. It means that you should apply the medication you use directly on the place that requires treatment. Your doctor should provide you with the details, and moisturizers should also come with the instruction.

But if your physician didn’t tell you anything (maybe it’s time to find a new one?) and there’s no instruction, you should implement a few simple rules:

  • Generously but thinly apply the cream across the infected area
  • Cover the surrounding area to prevent the infection from spreading
  • Lower the dose as soon as you start noticing improvement
  • Call for help if needed
  • Consult your doctor

Also, before you start applying the cream, make sure to wash your hands and skin carefully.

Read Also: What Is Scabies? Symptoms, Facts and Treatment

Side Effects

Implementing the rules given above when applying topical ointments should significantly decrease any side effects from occurring. Still, there’s always a chance that they appear. The most common one is a burning sensation in the treated area. It should stop as your skin gets used to the cream, though.

Besides that, you can also deal with:

  • Skin thinning
  • The infection spreading
  • Stretch marks
  • Acne
  • Excessive hair growth
  • Flushed facial appearance

If you notice any of the effects above, you should immediately contact your doctor. Also, keep in mind that these symptoms have higher chances of occurring when you use the cream for a more extended period.

Other Ways of Dealing with Dry Skin

Topical products may be a great addition to your skincare routine, but they’re not your only line of defense. If you have dry skin, you can also implement other, more straightforward methods of taking care of it.

First of all, think about the way you take showers. To prevent your skin from drying out, you should keep them short (5 – 10 minutes). You should also avoid bathing in hot water and consider switching your soap to gentle scent and dye-free cleaning products.

Secondly, when you wash your face, do it gently. Again, avoid soaps and use special moisturizing and mild skincare products. What’s more, if your skin is severely dry, don’t wash it too many times a day and keep it to an absolute minimum.

The third thing you should implement when dealing with dry skin is applying skincare products regularly. Use balms to help your skin retain moistures. The same goes for any special creams.

Implement all these three methods in addition to your topical medicaments to make sure your skin stays healthy. Keep in mind that if your skin is still dry and itchy despite taking proper care of it, you should immediately contact your doctor.

Conclusion

Many people tend to underestimate their dry skin. They say that it’s biological and there’s nothing they can do about it. They couldn’t be more wrong. If you don’t take care of it properly, it may lead to more severe skin diseases.

What’s more, the itching and sometimes even bleeding are not exactly comfortable. That’s why proper skincare is a necessity. Use moisturizers, creams, and, if needed, change your bathing habits. And if that doesn’t help, it means that it’s time for something more potent, and here’s where topical ointments come in.

Topical means you apply them precisely to a place that requires treatment. Because they’re much stronger, they’re usually prescribed by doctors. Applied correctly, they should relieve your dry skin and make you feel comfortable once again.

Click to rate this post!
[Total: 5 Average: 5]
Advertisement