Can I use Cicaplast Baume B5 all over my face?

Does your whole face need it?

• Dry skin: Creams and ointments generally hold moisture better than lotions, so a richer moisturiser can be useful when dryness affects your whole face.
• Combination skin: Treat the dry areas separately from the oily forehead, nose or chin. You can moisturise dry patches without covering oily areas, because moisturiser does not need equal representation across your face.
• Oily skin: A lighter gel can be a better choice. Too much moisturiser can clog pores and contribute to acne in some people.

Choose a facial moisturiser for your skin type rather than its packaging, which cannot do the moisturising for you. A noncomedogenic label means a product is intended not to block pores; it is a useful selection point, especially for oily or acne prone skin.2

Test it before covering your face

Before introducing a new product, apply your usual amount to a spot about the size of a quarter on the underside of your arm or the bend of your elbow. Repeat twice daily for seven to 10 days, leaving the balm on as you normally would. If you develop no redness, itching or swelling, you can begin using the product. This small area test helps predict irritation before you apply a product more widely.3

How to apply a moisturising balm

1. 1After washing, gently pat your skin dry. Apply moisturiser promptly to help retain moisture.
2. 2Smooth the balm gently over the areas that need it, following the direction of hair growth rather than rubbing vigorously.
3. 3Follow your Cicaplast tube's directions for frequency and areas to avoid. General emollient care allows repeated application when skin feels dry or tight.
4. 4Keep sun protection in your daytime routine. Use broad spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher, alongside shade and protective clothing.

Emollients are moisturising treatments that cover skin with a protective film and reduce moisture loss. Their role is to soothe and hydrate dry skin. If your skin is dry and peeling, moisturising rather than exfoliating avoids stripping away more moisture.145

What if you use a prescription cream?

If you use a steroid cream or another treatment for a skin condition, leave 20 to 30 minutes between that treatment and an emollient, and ask your doctor which should go first. Separating them helps avoid diluting the medicine or spreading it onto skin that does not need treatment. A moisturising balm should not replace prescribed treatment.45

When should you stop?

If the balm causes redness, itching or swelling, gently wash it off and stop using it. Speak to a pharmacist about an alternative if your skin reacts. Emollients can also cause persistent burning or stinging, inflamed hair follicles, or facial rashes that aggravate acne; discuss these symptoms with a GP, nurse or pharmacist. See a dermatologist if a reaction is severe and does not settle with a cool compress, or if dryness becomes painful, cracked, bleeding or very irritating despite moisturising.1345