Since the outbreak of COVID-19, people have been wearing masks for longer periods of time when going out. There may be an increasing number of people who are worried about skin irritation caused by masks.
Skin tends to become sensitive not only from the friction of masks, but also from mental stress and dryness.
It seems that 20% of people living in Japan always feel that their skin is sensitive, regardless of the season or physical condition.
If you have sensitive skin, makeup products, basic cosmetics such as lotions, emulsions, face washes, body washes, shampoos, etc. can easily cause skin irritation, and it may be difficult to find products that suit your skin.
In this article, I will introduce medicated emulsions that can be used even by people with sensitive skin.
- 1 About medicated (quasi-drug) emulsions
- 2 Points to consider when choosing a medicated (quasi-drug) emulsion
- 2.1 Point 1: If you are concerned about itching and dryness, pay attention to allantoin/dipotassium glycyrrhizinate.
- 2.2 Point 2: If you are concerned about acne, pay attention to dipotassium glycyrrhizinate and stearyl glycyrrhetinate.
- 2.3 Point 3: If you are concerned about age spots, pay attention to arbutin, vitamin C derivatives, and chamomilla ET.
- 3 5 medicated (quasi-drug) emulsions recommended for sensitive skin
- 4 Timing and points to use emulsion
- 5 Precautions when using
- 6 Q&A about “Sensitive Skin Emulsion”
- 7 Conclusion
About medicated (quasi-drug) emulsions
Some emulsions are labeled as ”Medicated”. “Medicated” refers to medicated cosmetics, which are included in quasi-drugs.
So, what is the difference between regular emulsion and medicated emulsion, and when should you use medicated emulsion?
What is the difference between medicated and regular emulsion? About the effects of medicated emulsion
Cosmetics are defined in the Pharmaceutical and Medical Device Act as follows:
”Cosmetics that are used to cleanse, beautify, make the human body more attractive, improve appearance, or maintain healthy skin or hair. Items intended for use in coating, spraying, or similar methods.”
Ordinary emulsion is included in cosmetics.
On the other hand, medicated cosmetics have efficacy effects such as ”preventing acne,” ”sterilizing and disinfecting the skin,” ”preventing body odor,” and ”suppressing melanin production to prevent spots and freckles,” in addition to the ordinary cosmetics.
Medicinal products are recommended for those who have these kinds of problems
Medicated emulsions can be mainly divided into products containing anti-inflammatory agents and products containing whitening ingredients.
For those with atopic dermatitis, razor bumps, acne, or other rough skin, or those with sensitive skin, I recommend a medicated emulsion containing anti-inflammatory agents, and for those concerned about age spots and freckles, I recommend an emulsion containing whitening ingredients.
Points to consider when choosing a medicated (quasi-drug) emulsion
If you consider other skin concerns other than sensitive skin, it may be easier to choose a product.
For example, Curel and Minon are famous medicated basic cosmetics for sensitive skin.
Curel offers four types of lines: moisturizing care, whitening care, acne care, and aging care.
Minon has three lines: moisturizing care, acne care, and anti-aging care, as well as a line of men’s cosmetics called Minon Men.
In this way, among the products for sensitive skin, there are products that address problems such as dryness, sebum, acne, age spots, and wrinkles.
Point 1: If you are concerned about itching and dryness, pay attention to allantoin/dipotassium glycyrrhizinate.
Allantoin and dipotassium glycyrrhizinate are included as active ingredients in medicated emulsions that mainly have a moisturizing effect.
Both are ingredients that are also included in medicines.
Allantoin has anti-inflammatory properties and promotes skin repair.
Dipotassium glycyrrhizinate has been shown to have anti-allergic, anti-inflammatory, and skin irritation-alleviating effects.
Point 2: If you are concerned about acne, pay attention to dipotassium glycyrrhizinate and stearyl glycyrrhetinate.
Dipotassium glycyrrhizinate and stearyl glycyrrhizinate are both made from ingredients extracted from licorice.
Glycyrrhetinic acid is obtained by decomposing glycyrrhizic acid with acid, dipotassium glycyrrhizinate is obtained by increasing the water solubility of glycyrrhizic acid, and stearyl glycyrrhetinate is obtained by increasing the fat solubility of glycyrrhetinic acid.
Toners often contain dipotassium glycyrrhizinate, creams and ointments often contain stearyl glycyrrhetinate, and medicated emulsions contain both ingredients.
Stearyl glycyrrhetinate is an ingredient that is highly absorbed through the skin.
Like dipotassium glycyrrhizinate, it has been shown to have anti-allergic, anti-inflammatory, and skin irritation-alleviating effects, and is used to suppress skin inflammation, including acne.
Point 3: If you are concerned about age spots, pay attention to arbutin, vitamin C derivatives, and chamomilla ET.
Both are ingredients that are often included in whitening emulsions and lotions.
Arbutin is a component extracted from cowberry that inhibits the bond between tyrosinase and tyrosine, which is necessary for melanin production, and suppresses melanin production.
When vitamin C derivatives penetrate the skin, they are broken down by enzymes to become vitamin C, which works to promote the reduction of melanin.
Chamomilla ET is an ingredient extracted from chamomile flowers that suppresses melanin production and prevents age spots and freckles.
The mechanism is to suppress the cell proliferation and activity of melanocytes, thereby suppressing the excessive production of melanin.
5 medicated (quasi-drug) emulsions recommended for sensitive skin
Here I will introduce medicated emulsions that are recommended for those with sensitive skin.
If you are wondering what kind of product to get, please refer to it.
IHADA medicated emulsion
The active ingredient dipotassium glycyrrhizinate suppresses inflammation in rough skin areas, and allantoin promotes repair of skin tissue. It also contains moisturizing ingredients, making it perfect for those who suffer from itching caused by dryness. You can wash not only your body, but also your hair and scalp.
[Efficacy]
Cleans the skin and prevents acne, razor bumps and rough skin. Cleans hair and scalp. Prevents dandruff and itching. Prevents sweat odor from hair and scalp. Keeps hair and scalp healthy.
[Active Ingredient]
Allantoin, Dipotassium glycyrrhizinate
Arouge Treatment Gel
Cares for sensitive skin with a double combination of active ingredients that suppress rough skin. Contains 3 types of moisturizing ingredients that focus on the moisturizing factors of the stratum corneum (nanoized natural ceramide, licorice leaf extract, and trimethylglycine). Moisturizing ingredients such as nano-ized natural ceramide fill the skin with moisture and improve the stratum corneum barrier.
[Efficacy]
Prevent dryness
[Active Ingredient]
Dipotassium glycyrrhizinate, ε-aminocaproic acid
MUJI medicated whitening emulsion for sensitive skin
This skin care series uses natural water from Kamaishi City, Iwate Prefecture, Japan. Contains a vitamin C derivative as an active ingredient to prevent spots and freckles caused by sunburn. Five types of plant extracts, including chimpi, moisturize and make your skin clear and smooth.
[Efficacy]
Prevent spots and freckles
[Active Ingredient]
Vitamin C derivative
Minon Amino Moist Medicated Acne Care M
Contains amino acids and botanical active ingredients that prevent rough skin and acne. Softens the skin while replenishing moisture and oil to improve texture. A milk type that is non-sticky and provides long-lasting moisture.
[Efficacy]
Prevent rough skin and acne
[Active Ingredient]
ε-aminocaproic acid, Stearyl glycyrrhetinate
Curel whitening emulsion
Contains chamomile ET, an active whitening ingredient derived from chamomile, which suppresses melanin production and prevents age spots and freckles. It also supplements the function of ceramide and provides moisture. Contains ceramide functional ingredients and eucalyptus extract as moisturizing ingredients. It deeply moisturizes the stratum corneum, making it less susceptible to external stimulation, keeping your skin plump and moisturized with a translucent appearance.
[Efficacy]
Prevents stains, freckles, and dryness
[Active Ingredient]
Camomira ET
Timing and points to use emulsion
For those with sensitive skin, keeping your skin from drying out will help you avoid all kinds of skin problems.
Use emulsion frequently to take care of your skin, such as after bathing, washing your face, and before applying makeup when going out.
It is more effective to take care of your skin in the following order: cleansing, washing your face, lotion, serum, emulsion, and cream, rather than applying emulsion all at once.
In addition, these face washes and basic cosmetics are often sold in series by each brand. By using products from the same series together, the effects of each item will be demonstrated.
Precautions when using
Below, I will explain precautions when using medicated emulsions, such as whether there are any sensitivities to the ingredients, whether there are any ingredients that should not be used during pregnancy or breastfeeding, and whether there are any cases where they should not be used.
Are there any side effects to medicated emulsion?
Even if you use medicated emulsion for sensitive skin, some people may experience side effects such as rash or itching. In this case, some of the ingredients contained in the emulsion may not be suitable for your skin.
If you notice any abnormalities on your skin after applying the emulsion, first wash it off thoroughly with warm water. If the symptoms are severe, it is recommended to apply an over-the-counter anti-itch medicine or consult a dermatologist.
Can medicated emulsion be used during pregnancy and breastfeeding?
The absorbed emulsion components have little effect on the fetus, so there is no problem using the medicated emulsion mentioned above.
However, many women’s skin changes during pregnancy and becomes sensitive. Therefore, be careful of symptoms such as rash.
It can also be used by those who are breastfeeding, but if you apply emulsion not only to your face but also to your body, be sure to avoid applying it to areas that will come into contact with infants.
Who should be careful when using medicated emulsion or who should not use it?
If you have experienced rash or itching in the past when using lotions or creams other than emulsion, there is a possibility that the skin symptoms will occur again when using emulsion containing the same ingredients.
Also, if you have particularly sensitive skin, be sure to check your skin carefully for any abnormalities when using a new emulsion.
Q&A about “Sensitive Skin Emulsion”
Below is a list of frequently asked questions when using medicated emulsions.
Acne tends to occur when your skin is out of balance due to dryness or excess sebum. It is very important to use milky lotion to prevent new acne from forming. It is more effective to use basic cosmetics that contain antibacterial and anti-inflammatory ingredients.
When applying emulsion to acne-prone skin, apply the emulsion to the non-acne-prone area first, and then apply the emulsion to the acne-prone area last, being careful not to spread acne bacteria to the entire skin. Let’s attach it.
Medicated emulsions specifically designed to treat acne contain anti-inflammatory ingredients as active ingredients.
For sensitive skin, there’s Minon Acne Care Milk, and for others, there’s FANCL’s Acne Care Gel Emulsion. Curel’s sebum trouble care series uses a moisturizing gel instead of an emulsion.
In general, there is no problem with men using lotions that are not labeled for men.
However, for those who prefer men’s products, there is Minon’s men’s milky lotion for sensitive skin. Other than that, Lucid’s milky lotion and Nivea Men’s milky lotion are also medicinal. Lucid and Nivea Men are anti-aging care products targeted at men over 40.
MUJI sells medicated whitening emulsion for sensitive skin.
Contains a vitamin C derivative as an active ingredient, which prevents melanin production. Fragrance-free, color-free, mineral oil-free, mildly acidic, paraben-free, alcohol-free, allergy tested, and formulated for sensitive skin.
Just because it’s cheap, like the ones sold at drugstores, doesn’t necessarily mean it’s less effective. Even though medicated emulsions are in the low price range, they contain active ingredients that have been scientifically proven to be effective and have passed examinations.
However, because they are cheaper, they may contain fewer types of active ingredients.
Conclusion
In addition to the ones introduced in this article, there are various types of medicated emulsions for sensitive skin on the market.
Some of you may have had the experience of looking at the claims of various products and not knowing which one to use.
Why not choose an emulsion, which is one of the moisturizing care items, by paying attention to the active ingredients that correspond to your skin concerns?