Download Breaking the itch-scratch cycle

Breaking the itch-scratch cycle
Special formula in Bepanthen® Itch Relief Cream helps to restore the skin barrier
damaged through dry skin, allergies or eczema.
Itchy and inflamed skin can be very annoying, often ending up in a vicious cycle. Scratching
the affected areas even worsens symptoms and is therefore often termed as “itch-scratch
cycle”. Common causes of itch are irritations such as allergies, eczema, or dry skin.
Bepanthen® Itch Relief Cream calms irritated skin in a natural way. The unique formula
has been developed to stabilize the skin barrier that has been damaged due to irritations,
and it reinforces the skin barrier, helping the healing process.1 It contains both natural
lipids and physiological humectants.2
The skin protects the body from potentially harmful substances and excessive water loss.
This natural barrier consists out of several layers: lipids from the epidermis form the most
external one, the horny layer (or stratum corneum) a lipid rich protecting layer that prevents
irritants from entering the body and too much water from evaporating.3 However, in certain
conditions, such as allergies, eczema, or dry skin, this layer, also known as the skin
barrier, is damaged. External irritants therefore can penetrate the skin and cause irritations.
Additionally, the skin becomes easily dry and itchy because water easily evaporates. 3 By
scratching, the symptoms are relieved for the moment, only to become worse afterwards.4
1
Harten J, Kurka P, Pavel V et al. Investigator-blind, randomized, monocentre, pilot trial to explore the efficacy and safety of a
topical medical device in patients with mild atopic dermatitis in an intra-individual comparison with 1 % hydrocortisone. Poster
Abstract EADV 2011.
2 Bepanthen® Itch Relief Cream Instructions for Use. September 2013.
3 Proksch E, Fölster-Holst R, Bräutigam M et al. Role of the epidermal barrier in atopic dermatitis. J Dtsch Dermatol Ges
2009;7:899–910.
4 Yosipovitch G, Papoiu AD. What causes itch in atopic dermatitis? Curr Allergy Asthma Rep 2008;8:306–311.
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Bepanthen® Itch Relief Cream breaks the cycle by providing the skin with the necessary
elements like lipids and humectants to re-establish the skin barrier. The cream contains
three key components: lamellar lipids, moisturizers like panthenol, and emollients. These
lamellar lipids contain ceramides which are the main natural lipids in the skin barrier and
other key lipids such as phytosterols. Together, they form a lamellar lipids structure which
is similar to those in the skin barrier.5 These lamellar lipids structure helps to retain the
skin’s moisture. Itchiness and redness decrease, thus reducing the urge to scratch. The
skin can slowly recover and rebuild its natural barrier. To avoid any further irritations,
Bepanthen® Itch Relief Cream is free from emulsifiers harmful for the hydro-lipid skin
barrier, preservatives, and fragrances.
About Bayer HealthCare
The Bayer Group is a global enterprise with core competencies in the fields of health
care, agriculture and high-tech materials. Bayer HealthCare, a subgroup of Bayer AG with
annual sales of around EUR 20.0 billion (2014), is one of the world’s leading, innovative
companies in the healthcare and medical products industry and is based in Leverkusen,
Germany. The company combines the global activities of the Animal Health, Consumer
Care, Medical Care and Pharmaceuticals divisions. Bayer HealthCare’s aim is to
discover, develop, manufacture and market products that will improve human and animal
health worldwide. Bayer HealthCare has a global workforce of 60,700 employees (Dec
31, 2014) and is represented in more than 100 countries. More information is available at
www.healthcare.bayer.com.
Our online press service is just a click away: press.healthcare.bayer.com
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Contact:
Patrick Kaiser, Phone +41 58 272-7616
E-mail: [email protected]
April 2015
Forward-Looking Statements
This release may contain forward-looking statements based on current assumptions and forecasts made by Bayer
Group or subgroup management. Various known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors could lead to
material differences between the actual future results, financial situation, development or performance of the company
5
Rawlings AV. Trends in stratum corneum research and the management of dry skin conditions. Int J Cosmet Sci 2003:25:63–95.
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and the estimates given here. These factors include those discussed in Bayer’s public reports which are available on
the Bayer website at www.bayer.com. The company assumes no liability whatsoever to update these forward-looking
statements or to conform them to future events or developments.
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