For the treatment of clinically dry skin conditions such as eczema and ichthyosis. **Key benefits of Hydromol Intensive:** - Helps to soften and moisturise skin - Helps reduce irritation - Forms a protective layer Hydromol Intensive is an emollient used to relieve the discomfort of clinically dry skin conditions. The cream helps to soften and moisturise your skin. Dry skin is caused by a lack of water in the outer layer of skin cells known as the stratum corneum (top layer of the skin). When this layer becomes dry it becomes cracked, scaly and sometimes itchy. The skin dries out when too much water evaporates from its surface. This increases as we get older, and is made worse by washing, because hot water and soap can remove the layer of natural oil on the skin. Hydromol Intensive contains urea, the skin’s natural moisturiser. Urea is a substance that is found naturally in the stratum corneum. It helps the skin retain moisture. Water is also normally retained in the stratum corneum by a thin layer of natural oil (sebum), which slows down evaporation of water from the skin surface. The urea in Hydromol Intensive is mixed with white soft paraffin which forms a layer of oil on the surface of the skin. This oily layer helps prevent water from evaporating from the skin’s surface which will reduce irritation, restore suppleness and improve the appearance of your skin.