If the skin feels dry, tight, irritated and has a scaly appearance, these are signs of a disturbed skin barrier. What options are available to keep this barrier intact? Structurally, the barrier consists largely of the skin‘s own fats (lipids) and bound moisture. If the skin lacks lipids, moisture rapidly escapes. The skin dries out. Consequently, lipid-rich care is important! Skin lipids include ceramides, linoleic acid, phospholipids, squalene as well as phytosterols. They can be supplied to the skin via various care oils and base ingredients. Some good examples include avocado oil, jojoba oil, sea buckthorn oil, almond oil, sesame oil or shea butter (for example, in GEHWOL med Lipidro Cream, GEHWOL med Sensitive, GEHWOL FUSSKRAFT Hydrolipid Lotion or GEHWOL FUSSKRAFT Soft Feet Butter). Modern probiotic active ingredients are also good for the skin barrier. Just as lipids are an important part of the mechanical barrier, the microbiome provides an additional biological barrier. One can imagine it as a microbial biofilm on the skin. The microbiome is populated by billions of beneficial bacteria and fungi. They protect the organism from pathogenic bacteria, viruses and fungi found in the environment. Probiotic active ingredients are harvested from lactic acid bacteria, among other things (for example, in GEHWOL balance with probiotic Lactobacillus pentosus). They promote the growth of the microbiome and support the skin‘s biological barrier function.

High-quality foot care products can become a full body sensorial experience with a balanced blend of essential oils. The art lies in finding exquisite oils and combining them in such a way that the product offers maximum skin protection as well as a fragrant care experience. This is why GEHWOL relies on essential oils of the highest quality. Essential oils have a balancing, harmonizing, or strengthening effect due to their influence on our brain. Scents are often associated with memories and trigger emotional responses. But not only “fragrant memories” have a positive effect on our emotional life. The volatile substances also influence nerve receptors in the brain and hormonal processes. For example, lavender has a calming and mood-lifting effect by inhibiting the flow of the stress hormones adrenaline and noradrenaline, while simultaneously promoting the release of the “happiness hormone” serotonin.

According to a study at Saarland University Hospital, the error rate in diagnosing nail diseases was around 54 percent. One reason could lie in medical training. Nail diseases play a comparatively minor role here. This also continues in everyday clinical practice. There are also factors such as time pressure on the doctor, inaccurate statements by the patient and a lack of routine. There is also a risk of confusion. Nail fungus (onychomycosis) has similar symptoms such as white or yellow discoloration of the nails, thickening of the nail plates and structural changes in the nail material. Such commonalities make a purely visual finding almost impossible. In case of suspicion, a detailed anamnesis of the affected person or interdisciplinary work with laboratories that can, for example, perform a biopsy is helpful. Assumptions that psoriasis weakens the skin and nail barrier and thus makes them more susceptible to mycoses have not been confirmed in the evaluation of almost 5000 inpatients at Kiel University Dermatology Clinic. Accordingly, they can not only occur together, but can also be treated jointly, for example with suitable preparations. Since psoriasis is an autoimmune disease, there is no cure. Only the symptoms can be treated with the help of local, systemic or physical therapies. For the patients, one thing counts above all: To find the therapy that reduces concomitant symptoms and thus increases quality of life. The patient‘s compliance plays a decisive role. As a foot care professional, you can alleviate the physical stress that often accompanies this. Removing excess keratinized tissue relieves pressure from the nail bed.

Urea is eminently suitable for increasing skin moisture in dry skin. But what formulation is the right one? The care of dry skin is one of the greatest cosmetic challenges. This is particularly true for foot skin. Since it tends to be low in fat on the sole, it tends to dry out more rapidly. Dry skin occurs symptomatically in many diabetics: the skin tears easily. Pathogens colonize the tissues and may cause severe defects and ulcers. Urea has proven itself as one of the most important active substances for the care of dry skin. Urea occurs in sweat, and increases callus upper layer moisture. This is due to the fact that urea lastingly binds water in and between the skin cells. The benefit of a moisturizing cream like the GEHWOL med Lipidro Cream, is that it has a high share of lipids. Skin evenly absorbs lipids into the skin with the active ingredients. The supply of lipids strengthens the barrier function of the skin. The barrier on the soles of the feet consists of epidermal lipids, which compact the callus cells into a natural protective shield against skin dryness. Skin moisture evaporate less easily and transdermal water loss is reduced.