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The Effects of Lotion on Moisture Retention

Moisture can leave your skin in a variety of ways, ranging from dehydration to evaporation. Because the epidermis (or layer of skin on the body) is the body's largest organ, protecting and maintaining healthy skin is key to being a healthy individual. Lotion aids in skin care by helping the skin retain moisture and preventing conditions associated with dry skin, such as eczema, rashes and breakouts.

  1. How the Skin Loses Moisture

    • The skin naturally secretes oils and a material called sebum, which is a moisturizing element that helps the skin stay healthy by circulating nutrients among the layers of the skin. It makes the skin supple and prevents infections as well. When you clean your skin, you remove the sebum along with other dirt and grime by detergents and soaps, which leave the skin dry. Evaporation and sweat also remove the sebum.

    How Lotion Works

    • The outer layers of a person's skin are composed of dead cells, which protect the inner layers of living cells from exposure to the environment. Because these cells protect other living cells, they need to be maintained and moisturized, which is what lotion does. Lotion gives these cells moisture and also protects the moisture that is already contained in the cells. Some lotions may sit on top of the skin as a protective layer, and others may be absorbed into the skin to replenish nutrients.

    Active Ingredients in Lotions

    • There are three materials in lotion that provide nutrients and help retain moisture in the skin: emollients, humectants and emulsifiers. Emollients are biodegradable materials that nourish the skin and make it soft and supple. Humectants help retain moisture and prevent dryness by adding an extra layer to the skin. Emulsifiers are a mixture of water and oil that forms the base for the lotion. Sometimes, lotion may contain a small amount of alcohol along with the emulsifiers, which makes the lotion easier to apply but can dry out the skin over time.

    Moisture and Aging

    • A recent study by Germaine Muniz at Cantor Research Laboratories found that a skin lotion called Skin MD Natural can prevent or slow the natural aging process of the skin with daily applications. The significance of this study, alongside its positive results for the Skin MD Natural brand, is that retaining moisture in the skin can also slow the process of aging. Skin naturally becomes wrinkled and saggy, and retaining moisture can counteract this process.

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