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Extremely dry skin, flaky and patchy skin problems are all skin conditions that are difficult to treat and manage. Psoriasis, Dermatitis and Eczema are even more difficult and can be painful and irritating as well as embarrassing.

Skinflint has a range of products which will help alleviate some of the symptoms associated with skin conditions, but it’s wise to consult a skin specialist or your GP if your problem is serious or if the skin is infected.

Tips for managing skin conditions

1. For the face, use a Skinflint product to suit your skin type: Clarifying if Oily/Combination, Enriching if Dry/Combination.
Use Rosehip Recovery Serum on dry patchy areas.
For the body, use S.O.S. Rub on dry cracked heels, elbows or any patches of dry skin. Apply to dampened skin to aid penetration. Olive Gardener's Balm is also an excellent moisturiser to use for dry skin anywhere on the body.
Replenish is designed to keep damaged skin hydrated. Use as an everyday non greasy moisturiser

2. Try Skinflint Enriching Cleanser on your body as cream wash if you’re unable to use soaps or detergent based cleansers.

3. Give Skinflint Soap a try, you’ll be surprised at how gentle it is, nothing like the soap you buy in a supermarket.

4. If swimming in chlorine pools, shower immediately afterwards and apply Skinflint Replenish.

5. If the skin on your body is so stressed that it has cracked, apply SOS Rub, Olive Gardener's Balm or Rosehip Recovery Serum thickly at night and cover with a cotton sock, glove or other item and leave on overnight. You can even cover with plastic wrap to really keep in the moisture.

6. Finally, always wear gloves when cleaning or using chemicals such as bleach, hair dyes etc. If your hands are badly affected, place cotton gloves on your hand first, then rubber gloves. Try Skinflint Olive Gardeners Balm at night.

Other ways to help yourself (or your child)

First of all, DO NOT USE:
• Supermarket Bar soap: they often contain harsh surfactants. Also, watch out for those deliciously perfumed ‘hand-made’ soaps. They generally contain surfactants which may be drying. They may also contain cheap artificial fragrance which can be irritating.

• Petroleum-based detergent body washes. These are typically listed as Sodium Lauryl or Laureth Sulphate or Ammonium Lauryl or Laureth Sulphate on labels. They are cheap and harsh surfactants that can dry out and irritate even normal skin.

• Harsh scrubs Scrubs which are detergent based. Enriching Face Polish is a far better option if you wish to use a scrub. It contains fine bamboo powder particles which are less irritating.

• You may have been told to avoid any products containing mineral oil, petroleum jelly - Vaseline (petrolatum) or sorbelene. These are all based on petroleum. I don’t believe they are the baddies they are made out to be. However, I choose not to use them as they do not penetrate, and therefore cannot moisturise or heal. They sit on the surface of the skin and act as a barrier. This is OK for a short time, but not healthy for the skin over a long period of time.

• Harsh laundry detergents containing strong artificial fragrances as well as lye, phenols, chlorines, phosphates, and fillers. I recommend Melapower,Trinature or Ecosafe, all concentrated laundry detergents which are safer and leave no residue on fabrics.
Take care with the type of cleaning products that you use. Bleach, chemical disinfectants and alkaline cleaning products cause untold damage to your skin as well as your lungs.
Try more natural alternatives. Bi-carb soda makes a great lightly abrasive cleaner for stoves and tiles. Add Tea Tree essential oil to your washing up liquid to make a disinfecting cleanser.

Skinflint products will not cure skin conditions. They provide relief and assist with preventing dryness and further irritation, sometime allowing these conditions to heal of their own accord.
Please consult your health professional if you are concerned or your skin is infected.