Dermol 500 lotion is a product which can help with the management of dry skin conditions. Having been given some to try out by a friend after a discussion about dry skin looking unsightly for summer, I have decided to review the product.

The bottle was quite large when compared to many skin moisturising lotions, as it contained 500mls of Dermol lotion, which goes a very long way. The pack it came in is a soft light blue/ green, with a short description about the product and its name in a large oval on the front of the box.

The bottle is the same light blue/ green shade and is made of sturdy feeling matt plastic. It has a handy white plastic pump action dispenser at the top and just a few quick pumps will dispense enough lotion to cover both arms.

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Dermol 500 lotion has 4 main ingredients in its mix. It contains liquid paraffin and isopropyl myristate, which are included for their moisturising abilities. There is also benzalkonium chloride plus chlorhexidine hydrochloride, these are both antiseptics.

The Dermol 500 lotion goes a very long way. Its a thin lotion, more like a body milk really. The lotion is white and once massaged evenly on to your skin, I have found it doesn't feel too greasy or oily considering its mean't to be a super mosituriser.

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The lotion is unscented and although its not mean't to smell of anything much, I find I don't like the smell of it at all. In fact although the lotion works very well at dealing with dry skin, especially on problem areas like elbows, knees and feet, the no scent smell is very off putting to me.

Dermol 500 might be unscented but its very unattractive smell has put me off so much that I only used the lotion for a few weeks before giving up with it and returning to good old standbys like the range of Body Shop Butters and some of the Soap and Glory and Sanctuary moisturisers.

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The ingredients within Dermol 500 should form a good a waterproof barrier over your skins surface when applied correctly, this should lock moisture in.

The antiseptic properties of Dermol 500 are great for those with dry/ itchy skin and they can help to rid the skin of nasty bacteria that make dry skin conditions like eczema worse. Combined these actions should help to protect your skin and leave it feeling softer and smoother too.

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If you are unable to use scented wash products then you can use the Dermol 500 lotion as a handy shower or bath wash. Its rather a clever feature that the lotion can be used in that way.

To use Dermol in the shower, you do need to wet the skin first, then instead of using a normal shower product use the lotion on your hands or a non sctratchy shower puff and apply to your skin.

Once you are finished washing, just rinse the lotion away and dry your skin with a soft towel. For best results don't rub the skin, just pat lightly with your towel and that will allow the moisturising effects of the lotion to remain on the skin.

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You should not use Dermol 500 if you have a known allergy to any of the ingredients. You should also take care if you have used this in the shower, as it will leave the shower a little slippery, so any residue left must be washed away.

Over all I think Dermol 500 gives very good results and if it wasn't for the fact that the smell of the lotion is to me very off putting, I would have given it a 5 star rating.

In terms of how it works it ought to get those 5 stars, but due to its very unattractive smell its only getting 4 stars today.

Dermol 500 can be bought over the counter for £8 to £9, but can also be prescribed by your GP if needed.