Medical Lotions

Most of what a lotion does is hold water against the skin. That is not a small thing - dry skin cracks, itches and lets irritants in - but it is worth knowing, because it means the simple ones usually work as well as the expensive ones.

Matching the lotion to the problem

Dryness wants a thicker emollient, applied within a few minutes of a bath while the skin is still damp. Itch and allergy want something plain and fragrance-free; perfume is the most common cause of a reaction to a product meant to soothe. Heat rash wants loose cotton, a cool wash and less product, not more. Sun wants a sunscreen, which is the one bottle on the shelf with a genuinely large effect.

Fragrance-free is not a luxury feature. On irritated skin it is the whole treatment.

When it is not a lotion problem

A rash that spreads, weeps, or comes with fever is an infection until a doctor says otherwise. A patch that will not heal, a mole that changes shape or colour, or sudden severe itching without a rash all need medical attention rather than another product.