prevent the skin-drying and irritant effects that can be caused by washing and bathing and by the soaps, foaming additives and fragrances used in ordinary bathing / showering products. The cap is designed to hold 10 ml of product and can be used to help measure out the required quantity to add to the bath (see Section 3).

Its antimicrobial properties assist in overcoming infection, whether from Staph aureus, the pathogen which often complicates eczema and associated pruritus, or secondary infection caused by scratching. As a general rule, however, the use of normal soaps and foaming bath products (even those labelled “moisturising”) is best avoided, or at least kept to a minimum.

The ingredients have been in widespread use in this and similar preparations for many years, without reports of problems. Although the shower emollient has been specially formulated for use on dry or problem skin, in the unlikely event of a reaction, discontinue treatment. The active ingredients in this product are liquid paraffin (65% w/w) and acetylated wool alcohols (5% w/w).

All emollients, with the exceptions of Zerodouble ®gel and WSP/LP (50:50), may be used as soap substitutes.Quantities required will vary with the size of the patient, the severity and extent of skin dryness. The NICE Clinical Knowledge Summaries (CKS) site is only available to users in the UK, Crown Dependencies and British Overseas Territories.