The name of the game when dealing with eczema is to stay hydrated. Humectants help the skin retain moisture by attracting water molecules from lower cell layers like a magnet, making them useful in managing dry, dehydrated, and irritated skin in need of barrier repair. If the humidity is over 70 percent, such as during summer months, humectants can draw water vapor from the air to help moisturize the skin.
Humectants also encourage the shedding of dead skin cells by breaking down the proteins that hold the cells together. Consequently, they can improve the sensation and appearance of flaky skin and skin that has become thickened secondary to inflammation, scratching, or rubbing, which is commonly seen in people with chronic eczema.
There are two types of humectants that are primary players: synthetic and natural. Synthetic humectants include ingredients like propylene glycol, urea, glycerin, and lactic acid in low concentrations, which are commonly found in beauty products; but, when used in excess, they can interfere with the body's mechanisms of self-hydration, potentially drying skin over the long term.
Alternatively, natural humectants draw moisture from the bottom skin layers to the surface while enhancing the skin's hydrating abilities. Mango butter is considered a natural humectant, great for those with perpetually dry and sensitive skin. The most commonly incorporated natural humectant to look for in a moisturizer is hyaluronic acid.
Our 22 Naked Mango Butter offers a natural complex that helps rebalance the skin’s microbiome while supporting its natural defense system. In addition to mango butter, it’s rich in vitamin E, which soothe and calm dry, itchy skin.
