Rx for sensitive skin

Did you know that the cleansing part of one’s beauty regimen may be the simplest, but the most damaging?

Simply because most facial cleansers out in the market today have components called surfactants (surface active ingredients). And these surfactants can’t differentiate between dirt, oil and the normal skin lipids.

“Surfactants actually strip moisture on your face, which results to dry skin,” explains Dr. Mara Huber, a member of the Philippine Dermatological Society. “I’m sure you’ve experienced washing your face and felt your skin tight and dry after.”

For most of us, that squeaky clean feeling might seem like the ideal of cleanliness, but is actually proof that we’ve gone overboard.

Most moms are guilty of this. I am guilty of this. When my son, Karl, was in his teens, he had a bout with pesky pimples. So I turned to popular anti-pimple creams and soaps that dried out the zits and his skin, too! And that’s when I decided to bring him to a derma who cautioned us against using harsh cleansers.

The Science Of Cleansing

Dr. Mara Therese Evangelista-Huber

According to Dr. Huber, it’s best to be aware of your own skin.

“There are 16 different skin types,” she says. “And some people think there are only three: oily, normal or a combination of both. There are certain products for each skin type.”

Cleansing is so universal that people think “kung uno and uso, ‘yun and dapat sundin.”

“Don’t fall into the trap of buying something that your favorite celebrities endorse. If it works for them, it might not work for you,” Dr. Huber adds. “You may want to choose a facial cleanser with a mild surfactant.”

For those with specific skin concerns, it’s best to see a licensed dermatologist.

“People need to realize that it is not expensive. Look for those who are licensed members of the Philippine Dermatological Society,” advises Dr. Huber.

A board-certified dermatologist and derma pathologist who specializes in diagnosing skin disorders under a microscope, Dr. Huber was the resource speaker at the launch of Cetaphil’s Ultra Gentle Body Wash.

Cetaphil is world’s most doctor-prescribed gentle cleanser.

Make Cetaphil — Gentle Skin Cleansing Cloth, Moisturizing Cream, sunblock, Daily Facial Moisturizer and Moisturising Cream — part of your skincare routine.

“Cetaphil is an expert when it comes to facial cleansing. Now, it has embarked on the body wash,” says Jade Silva-Neto, Galderma business unit head. “Cetaphil Body Wash is a new product. It’s been launched in the US already and it’s doing really well. The Philippines is one of those first batches of countries where we debuted the product, next to the US.”

And just like the original cleanser, Cetaphil Body Wash is fragrance-free, has low pH and gentle surfactants. It also contains panthenol and aloe vera. Panthenol has anti-itch property.

“If you scrutinize the label, it says it’s an ultra gentle body wash. To get that, you really need clinical evidences to prove that it’s really ultra gentle. That claim really caters to unserved needs — those individuals who have the most sensitive skin,” enthuses Neto.

“We want to change how the world views skincare through product innovation,” adds Raghavendra Sadashiva. “I know it’s a very strong statement and we keep our consumers and patients at the center of it.”

So if you’re idea of clean is that squeaky clean feeling, it’s time to err on the side of being gentle.