Master of Pharmacy Albert Skrzypczak
Medical consultation: Dermatologist Joanna Nowak MD

Nowadays, more and more people have problems with dry skin both in summer and in winter. This problem is exacerbated by some diseases such as atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, ichthyosis, and other types of dermatitis. Repeated temperature changes, heating and dry indoor air in winter, overzealous body washing, especially in summer, damage the skin’s protective barrier and disrupt its pH. Consequently, the skin becomes dry, scaly, and itchy.  

The problem of dry skin affects people of all ages, although it may be particularly vulnerable to people suffering from the skin diseases listed above and the elderly. With age, the sebaceous glands disappear gradually, sweat and sebum secretion also decrease, and thus the protective barrier and lipid mantle of the skin are weakened.

 Ladies and gentlemen, let us consider the issue of dry skin. Human skin naturally has an acid pH, an average pH of 5.5, and this medium enables the protective barrier and protective bacteria to be maintained. Because of external factors, as well as shower gels, soaps, and detergents, which have an alkaline pH of 9-12, the skin has to change its medium from acidic to alkaline. It causes skin damage. Protective bacteria are killed and replaced with pathogenic bacteria. The skin loses its tightness, elasticity, becomes dehydrated, overdried and susceptible to infections. Also, persistent itching may appear.

 Patients wanting to help themselves, try to use various generally available creams and emollients. A lot of manufacturers describe their products in ads as neutral in terms of pH.

What is a neutral pH? Neutral solutions have a pH of 7.0., so for example, water. The usage of pH-neutral products does not cause permanent improvement, since they do not restore the correct, natural, acidic skin pH of 5.5. It may not meet the expectations promised by manufacturers. Table 1 below presents the pH of generally available preparations, and as can be seen, it ranges from 6 to 8. None of these products has the same pH as the skin. So can their overuse yield beneficial results, then?

  Table 1

Why is it so difficult to keep a stable acidic pH? To achieve this, it is necessary to use hand-selected ingredients, adjust the process and quality of production, and use suitable machines that would allow us to create unique products with acidic pH.

 Products of the Idravitae series (cream, balm, and washing gel), which recently appeared on the market, contain lactic acid, which can naturally reproduce an acid pH of 5.5, which is able to restore the skin’s protective barrier, reduce the number of pathogenic bacteria, and moisturize and oil the skin to prevent water loss. In addition, the 2% salicylic acid contained in the cream and balm has antiseptic and antibacterial properties, which prevents the development of inflammation, and makes the skin elastic and smooth.

 Idravitae cream and balm contain very important vitamins – A, E, C in liposomes, and F. These vitamins are able to deeply moisturize and nourish overdried skin, as well as speed up its regeneration process. Vitamin C is absorbed better thanks to liposomes. It also protects the skin from free radicals, improves the condition of fragile blood vessels and supports collagen synthesis. Vitamin F is very rarely found in other preparations. It is an essential unsaturated fatty acid, which is the most important while repairing the lipid layer so that the skin is not exposed to drying.    

 Therefore, while choosing a skincare product for dry skin, it is worth paying attention to the pH of 5.5 (natural skin pH), as well as ingredients that help to properly nourish, moisturize, and restore the skin.

 Idravitae cream works great as an occlusive dressing, for example, on hands, feet, knees or elbows. Apply Idravitae cream to the affected areas and cover them with a thin foil for a couple of hours. The occlusive dressing used together with an impermeable material increases the preparation absorption. This kind of therapy is perfect for cold and windy winter days.