Can you use dimethicone daily?

What does dimethicone do for your skin?

Dimethicone is an occlusive ingredient, meaning it forms a protective layer that reduces water loss from the skin's surface. It appears in moisturizers and barrier creams, including products used for dry hands. Moisturizers help reduce dryness and support the skin barrier, the outer layer that keeps water in and irritants out. A moisturizer can double as a base for makeup, without requiring a second job title on the packaging.34

How should you use it each day?

1. 1Wash gently. For dry skin, use a gentle, fragrance free cleanser and warm rather than hot water.
2. 2Apply your moisturizer immediately after washing or bathing, while your skin is still damp. Gently massage it into your skin.
3. 3Reapply as needed. Moisturize after hand washing and whenever your skin feels dry. Slightly dry skin can need only a light moisturizer at night, while very dry skin can need more frequent applications.

These are general moisturizer directions, not a special dimethicone schedule. Moisturizers have their greatest therapeutic effects within the first six hours after application, and applying them two to three times daily can help maximize benefits. If you use a dedicated barrier cream, apply it sparingly and reapply as necessary.34

Which texture should you choose?

For your face, choose a gel moisturizer for oily skin, a lotion for normal or combination skin, and a cream for dry to very dry skin. If you tend to break out, look for a product labeled noncomedogenic, meaning formulated not to clog pores. Choose a moisturizer you like using, because a jar sitting untouched is doing excellent work as a jar.13

For very dry skin, creams and ointments add more moisture than lotions. Dimethicone barrier creams feel less greasy than petroleum based barrier products, but petroleum based products reduce water loss more effectively. If frequent washing or friction affects your hands, a barrier cream can help protect against irritants and drying.24

Who should be careful?

Barrier creams are usually well tolerated, but some occlusive formulas can worsen acne on the face. Fragrances, preservatives and other components can also cause allergic contact dermatitis, an itchy inflammatory skin reaction. For dry or sensitive skin, choose fragrance free products; an unscented label can still mean the formula contains ingredients that hide other smells. Most barrier creams should not be applied directly to broken skin.24

Stop using a moisturizer if contact dermatitis develops. Tell a dermatologist if moisturizer causes burning, stinging or irritation, or if dryness continues despite regular moisturizing. Persistent dryness can need treatment beyond a moisturizer.23