Use of emollients in the treatment of dry skin conditions.

Dry skin conditions are often not considered important by health professionals, and as a consequence treatments are frequently under-prescribed. As a result of this, problems with untreated dry skin can lead to a variety of issues. Conditions such as pruritus and ichthyosis vulgaris can be distressing, while ezcema and psoriasis can lead to more serious consequences such as fissures and infections and can result in a reduced quality of life and social isolation. However, with appropriate treatments such as emollient therapy, the incidences of these conditions occurring can be reduced. Despite a wide range of choice available on the market, choosing an effective emollient which will help aid concordance is often difficult. In order to achieve this, several factors need to be considered in conjunction with the product selection. This article discusses the various factors that nurses need to consider when advising patients on which emollient to use as part of their skin care regimen, in order to improve concordance and patient outcomes.