FAQs

When the skin is healthy it forms a barrier between the body and the external environment. This barrier is very effective at keeping water or moisture in the skin and keeping irritants out.

The structure of the skin is often shown as a ‘brick wall’ with the skin cells as the ‘bricks’ and the natural oils in the skin as the ‘mortar’. Normally this forms an effective barrier preventing loss of water from the skin and preventing the skin from becoming dry. If the skin barrier is damaged or there is a change in the structure of the skin that affects the barrier properties, moisture in the skin is lost and the outer layer of the skin becomes dry.

Dry skin may be caused when the skin produces less natural oils which means it is less able to retain moisture. Excessive water loss leaves the skin dry and irritated.

Dry skin is a sign or symptom of several medical skin conditions including eczema, psoriasis and ichthyosis.

An emollient is a medical moisturiser which can help to prevent excessive water loss from dry skin. Emollients contain oils which work by replacing lost natural oils in the skin and by helping to repair the skin barrier. Sometimes they also contain humectants which help to hold water in the skin for longer.

Some emollients are designed to be left on the skin and these are known as ‘applied’ or ‘leave-on’ emollients. There are other types of emollients known as soap substitutes and these are designed to be used to wash the skin instead of traditional soaps and foaming shower gels and bubble baths.

Humectants are naturally occurring substances that love water, and hold onto it very tightly. Humectants help to hold onto water within the skin to reduce dryness. Some emollients contain added humectants, such as glycerol and urea, which are examples of naturally occurring humectants.

Applying a ‘leave-on’ emollient is simple. Emollients should be smoothed onto dry skin in the direction of hair growth and then allowed to soak in. Don’t vigorously rub the emollients into your skin.

You should read the patient information leaflet within your emollient packs for full instructions, or speak to your doctor or nurse for further information.

Emollients should be applied regularly throughout the day. Some emollients will require reapplication every 4-6 hours or whenever the skin feels dry.

Doublebase Emollient Gel is available from many independent pharmacies throughout Ireland.

Ask your pharmacist for Doublebase Emollient Gel by name. If it is not in stock, your pharmacy staff should be able to order it in for you.

Doublebase Emollient Gel is available in 100g tubes and 250g pump dispensers.

Doublebase Emollient Gel is available in a 100g tube and a 250g pump pack.

No. Doublebase Emollient Gel is a self-selection product that does not require a medical prescription. Your doctor, nurse or dermatologist may recommend Doublebase Emollient Gel to help manage your dry skin condition.

We have not tested our products or ingredients on animals, nor do our suppliers conduct such testing on our behalf.

None of the ingredients are of animal origin, and Doublebase Emollient Gel has not been tested on animals.