87 per cent of cold sore sufferers prefer to treat them with a product specifically designed for cold sores

Skin conditions can be exacerbated during the winter months, as biting winds, central heating and exposure to UV rays make it a sensitive time for eczema, acne, rosacea and dermatitis sufferers. We reveal recent additions to the winter skincare category

Winter sunshine can be just as harmful to skin as summer rays. According to the Met Office, snow reflects at least 85 per cent of UV rays. And with the skin flare-up category in pharmacy seeing a recent surge to 8.2 per cent growth, there’s extra profits to be made from winter skincare products.

Pharmacists looking to offer a defence cream for sensitive skin may want to consider a natural option, like Kalme Day Defence SPF30, launched in September by the Skin Shop. The lotion contains rice bran, antioxidants and fatty acids. It is paraben, SLS and perfume free.

Kalme Day Defence SPF30 is a helpful addition to pharmacy ranges, says Rory Myles, product developer at Skin Shop. “It’s a hard-working day defence cream that addresses several typical winter skin problems. An extract of caper buds helps combat winter ruddiness and also helps skin feel less sensitive, which is a common problem in winter weather. The SPF30 also helps protect sensitive skin from UV damage from winter sunshine, while a zinc oxide ingredient is beneficial for protecting skin from breakouts. Rice bran and other nutrients also help guard against winter dryness.”

The new SEQuaderma skincare range, from Pro Bono Bio was launched this summer, and distribution of its five new products was extended to independent pharmacies from October 1. Julie Van Onselen, independent dermatology nurse and chair of SEQuaderma Skin Health Expert Group, agrees that autumn and winter months are a particular challenge for people with common skin conditions. She says: “SEQuaderma provides a solution for those living with eczema, seborrhoeic dermatitis, acne, rosacea, and having the visible signs of chronological and photo ageing. All five products in the range are specifically designed to restore skin health and confidence to those with these conditions.”

Winter eczema relief

With around five million eczema sufferers in the UK there are several options for pharmacists wanting to stock a comprehensive eczema range, including both new and heritage brands. The Little Butterfly range was launched at the end of September last year. The organic products, free from mineral oil, paraffin, paraben, silicones, SLS and artificial fragrances, are suitable for babies and adults with dry or eczema-prone skin.

Founder Gudrun Wurm says the products will also help heal and soothe dry winter skin: “The Floating on Clouds bath milk is a great substitute for bath bubbles, with essential cucumber and avocado oils to nourish and gently cleanse skin. The Dew Drops at Dawn body lotion moisturises dry, eczema-prone skin, healing with just a few applications and providing added protection during winter. The Fall into Dreams massage oil will pamper skin, with added calendula ensuring skin regenerates overnight to further protect skin from environmental impacts.”

Hope’s Relief, the top-selling eczema cream in Australia, is now seeing some promising returns and recognition in the UK, recently winning two awards at the Free From Skincare Awards at The Love Natural, Love Organic Show at London Olympia in July. The range is steroid-free, suitable for newborn babies, and contains natural ingredients including manuka honey, gotu kola, aloe vera, calendula and liquorice root.

Meghna Patel, director at brand owner Mahi Naturals, says Hope’s Relief is an essential part of any winter skincare product selection. “In community pharmacies, pharmacists and their staff should be able to advise on alternative natural products for the treatment of dry skin, particularly eczema, dermatitis and psoriasis. Pharmacists will know that there are an increasing number of customers looking for safe alternatives to steroid and petroleum based products for eczema that are safe for long term use."

Old favourites

Sudocrem Antiseptic Healing Cream is far from new – it has been around for over 80 years – but its market presence is as strong as ever. Pharmacists can position this licensed medicine in the winter skincare category as a treatment to relieve eczema, chilblains, acne and other sore skin conditions.

Sudocrem’s senior brand manager Nick Lang says: “As the unique formulation has a water-repellent base and creates a barrier which moisturises and protects the skin, it is particularly suitable during the months of winter when cold, harsh conditions damage and dry out the skin.”

Another household eczema name still making its mark is GSK’s Oilatum. Recent data reveals that the brand has grown 12.5 per cent in the skin health category. General growth was bolstered by the launch of the Daily Junior Cleansing Range in November 2014, including a shampoo, head to toe wash, and bath foam, which resulted in 36.6 per cent growth in the child skin health market.

Jennifer Walker, Oilatum brand manager, explains: “The Oilatum brand provides a comprehensive portfolio of products for pharmacists to stock in order to accommodate shoppers looking for an effective solution for eczema and dry skin conditions, as well as the Oilatum Daily Junior range for dry skin. GSK offers an engaging training programme on eczema and dry skin to ensure pharmacists feel confident to advise their customers. Pharmacists are recommended to utilise POS in store to help drive standout for the skin health category and to direct shoppers to the products.”

Combatting cold sores

RB addressed a gap in the cold sore market with the release of its Bonjela Invisible Cold Sore Cream in August. An RB consumer survey revealed that 87 per cent of cold sore sufferers prefer to treat them with a product specifically designed for cold sores. A further 38 per cent want an immediate reduction in cold sore visibility.

The cream turns 'invisible' on application and prevents the spread of further cold sores by forming a protective layer against aggravating UV rays and virus particles. The new addition to the UK’s number one trusted mouth pain relief brand is being backed by a TV campaign with a 17-million consumer reach.

Coconut oil is getting much good press as the miracle skin cure of the moment. Sainsbury’s sales surged by nearly 450 per cent in 2014 and celebrities, from models to movie stars, seem to swear by it.

Could there be positive returns for pharmacists, or is coconut oil a fad? Tanya Harris, director at Tiana Fair Trade Organics, which produces a coconut oil moisturiser, has seen sales increase. “There has been a significant increase in the use of virgin coconut oil by consumers in the UK over the last five years,” she explains.

“Consumer demand has seen growth in all age segments as the beneficial properties of virgin coconut oil have been more widely recognised. This in turn has brought more suppliers into the market, making it a much more competitive proposition than five years ago.”

The Tiana Rose Fresh Coconut TLC moisturiser is a rose-scented, anti-aging face cream containing 100 per cent cold pressed coconut oil, fresh coconut butter and rosa damascena oil.

Five hero skin products offering winter relief

• First patented back in 1902, the Eucerin range is backed by its own SOS guide to managing winter skin. The newest product in the range, which launched last October, is the Eucerin Dry Skin 5% Replenishing Body Wash.
• Australia’s “best selling” skincare range, Graham’s, is naturally formulated from coconut oil, jojoba oil and honey, which can be used for sensitive skin, eczema and psoriasis.
• O’Keeffe’s Working Hands fragrance-free hand cream offers relief for dry hands, prone to winter cracking and splitting. RH Ferris pharmacist Andrew Wilsdon endorses the cream: “Since stocking O’Keeffe’s Working Hands hand cream it has fast become one of our biggest selling products.”
• Mustela, a skincare brand for babies and infants, secured its UK distribution in 2014. Mustela has developed its fragrance-free Stelatopia cleansing and emollient creams for dry and eczema prone skin.
• For pharmacists wanting to stock a skin-boosting supplement, Altrient C may be of interest. Princeton Consumer Research revealed that the liposomal vitamin C gel supplement boosts collagen production and skin elasticity.