Dermol you old softy! (Dermol 500 Lotion)

Member Name: jodiestokes

Product:	Dermol 500 Lotion
Date:	12/10/09 (280 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: ~

Disadvantages: ~

~~ Introduction ~~

I first came across Dermol 500 lotion after being prescribed the product to use in conjunction with a steroid based cream for the treatment of eczema around five years ago. I have suffered with persistent eczema on the palms of my hands for most of my adult life, because the eczema had become particularly severe I was advised to use Dermol 500 lotion as soap substitute as most other shower gels and soaps appeared to burn my hands and cause further irritation.

Three years later after having an adverse reaction to some of the chemicals in a facial chemical peel the skin on my face became infected causing a rather unpleasant outbreak of acne and blackheads. After visiting a dermatologist I was again prescribed Dermol 500 lotion as a facial wash substitute in conjunction with duac cream.

~~ The manufacturer ~~

In 1963 Dermal (manufacturer of Dermol 500 lotion) was founded. The main aim of the Dermal Laboratories was and is to research, develop and market various dermatological products, primarily intended for prescription. The company's expertise focuses on the formulation of pharmaceutical preparations to treat or to be applied to the skin, paying particular attention to therapeutic bio-availability and patient acceptability.

Although Dermal's products are not widely known by the consumer they are however well known amongst dermatologists, general practitioners and nurses and are widely prescribed for the treatment of a variety of skin disorders, such as psoriasis, eczema, dry skin conditions and acne, as well as other conditions which can be treated by applied medication.
Dermal have a wide range of products tailored for different skin conditions but there are four products within their Dermol range:
Dermol 600 Bath, to be used in the bath water
Dermol 200 Shower, to be used under the shower
Dermol Cream, to be used on very dry skin as a leave-on cream or as a substitute for soap
And Dermol 500 Lotion, to be used on dry skin as a leave-on lotion or as a substitute for soap

~~ Packaging and product ~~

Dermol 500 lotion comes in a 500g pale green plastic bottle with a dark green push dispenser lid that can be locked by twisting it for hygienic reasons. The bottle comes in a dark or light green cardboard box with user leaflet inside displaying all the relevant information.

The lotion itself is mid range in consistancy, not too thick and not too thin. It has no scent and you won't need too much to get a nice even coating. The lotion has a nice cooling effect to it which almost insantly eases itchy skin.

~~ Cost and availability ~~

Although Dermol 500 lotion isn't as widely available as other moisturizing products it can be found in a number of pharmacists as well as online. You should expect to pay around the £10 (£10.25 from amazon.com) mark for 500g unless of course you have it on prescription. This may seem fairly pricey but when you take into consideration the quantity, quality as well as its number of uses I would say that it is good value for money.

~~ Use and ingredients ~~

Dermol 500 lotions main active ingredients:

Liquid paraffin and isopropyl myristate, both have moisturizing properties. They work by replacing lost water within the skin forming a waterproof barrier over the skin surface. This prevents water within the skin from evaporating and keeps the underlying skin hydrated.

Benzalkonium chloride and chlorhexidine hydrochloride are both antiseptics. They help to destroy bacteria on the surface of the skin, which may otherwise become infected and aggravate dry skin conditions such as eczema. This will also help to keep everyday dirt and pollution at bay.

Skin conditions, such as eczema and dermatitis have a tendency to get worse if the skin is allowed to dry out. Used regularly, Dermol 500 lotion can help to restore the skin's smoothness; softness and flexibility by replacing lost moisture as well as helping the skin retain moisture. This helps reduce scaling, redness and itching. The lotion can be used in the shower as a soap or normal shower gel substitute when washing, or applied directly to dry areas of skin as a moisturizer. After washing, the skin should be patted rather than rubbed dry to avoid rubbing off the oil.

A dermatologist may advise a 30 second to one minute period to allow the lotion to be absorbed into the skin before washing off if you are using the product as a soap substitue in order to effectively absorb dirt and bacteria as well as to get the best results from the products moisturizing properties.

~~ Opinion ~~

Eczema and other related dry skin disorders:

As a moisturizer: Where and when I can I prefer to avoid steroid creams for eczema as they do damage the skin over time. Ever since I have used Dermol 500 as a moisturizer for my hands I have had very few severe outbreaks and although I still have a very mild case I haven't felt the need to use steroid creams for several months. My eczema hasn't been fully eliminated but the lotion has certainly worked wonders in keeping it to the bare minimum unlike other moisturizers that claim to help fight eczema but have only proved to irritate the condition further, such as E45 cream which I find tends to burn when applied to the affected areas.

As a soap substitute: When my eczema was at its worst I used the lotion as a full body wash. It's hard to use any other type of body wash when at its most severe; because the eczema is on my hands most products will invariably come into contact with them and cause further inflammation and irritation. I have to say I didn't get that fresh feeling like I would using a normal sensitive shower gel and the product doesn't lather either, though I would say that the lotion does get you nice and clean. If eczema is severe I would strongly recommend using this product as a soap replacement until the condition is under control. I found the itching and burning sensation associated with eczema to be significantly reduced within 24 hours. Although I haven't continued to use the lotion as a full body wash (opting to use simples sensitive shower gel instead), I do still use it to wash my hands and feel that i have prevented a flare up as a consequence.

Acne:

I have to say I was rather surprised when my dermatologist prescribed Dermol 500 as a face wash substitute to help reduce acne. I had always associated the product with dry skin conditions; the product information doesn't indicate that the lotion would be beneficial. However I did raise this concern with my dermatologist who did explain that the product contains antiseptic properties which can help to remove the pollution of day to day life. He also explained that moisturizing the skin in this way can help to soften the skin naturally unlodging blackheads and condomes.

In conjunction with duac cream I found this product to be highly effective at cleansing away dirt and ridding those stubborn blackheads,at the same time keeping the skin really soft. I certainly haven't experienced too many spots and condomes since using this product. I actually found it to be a really good replacement for my ordinary moisturizer as well.

Other uses:

I think that Dermol 500 lotion is a great product not just for people with skin ailments but also for those wanting smoother and softer skin. It is fantastic as a after bath body lotion as much as anything else.

Using the lotion to shave as well as after moisturize I have also found to be effective at preventing shaving rash and all its associated symptoms. My legs always feel really smooth and stay smooth after, applying a perfumed body lotion to freshly shaved legs is never a good idea.

~~ Conclusion ~~

The fact that this lotion has so many uses makes it an absolute must have in my bathroom and real value for money. The product is made all the more attractive by the fact that it has been developed by professionals who create products for the medical world and not just by some flashy cosmetics company with all the spin.

I would happily recommend this product not just to those with skin aliments but to everyone that views moisturizers and body lotions as must have products; this lotion really does knock the socks off of most in terms of its value and performance.

~~ Additional information ~~

For more information on Dermol 500 lotion or any of Dermal's other products you can visit their website via the following address:

http://www.diomed.co.uk/dermal-laboratories/Produ ctList.ashx

Thank you for reading!

Summary: A truely excellent product.