1. Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to give patients clear, practical and medically accurate instructions on how to choose and use moisturiser correctly in the Australian setting. Moisturiser use is treated as a daily medical skin-care measure, not just a cosmetic extra, because it can help improve barrier function, help reduce flare frequency, and may lower the need for stronger medications in some patients with dry or eczema-prone skin.^{1 2} This policy also ensures that all clinicians and staff at Newcastle Cosmetic Doctor give consistent moisturiser advice before and after cosmetic treatments, so patients are not confused by mixed messages.

2. Scope

This policy applies to all patients attending the clinic for cosmetic injectables, laser, IPL, skin treatments, peels or any procedure that can make the skin more sensitive, dry or irritated. It also applies to all doctors, therapists and staff who provide skin-care or post-treatment instructions, and to all written or digital materials from the clinic that discuss moisturisers, emollients or basic topical skin care.

3. Definitions

• Moisturiser: A topical product applied to keep skin hydrated, reduce dryness and support the skin barrier.^{1 2}
• Emollient: An ingredient or product that softens and smooths the skin surface; often used interchangeably with “moisturiser” in clinical practice.^{1 2}
• Humectant: Ingredient that attracts and holds water in the outer skin layer (e.g. glycerine, urea, hyaluronic acid).^{2 9}
• Occlusive: Ingredient that forms a film over the skin to reduce water loss (e.g. petrolatum, mineral oil, dimethicone).^{2 9}
• Lotion: Light, high-water, low-oil product; best for mild dryness or hairy areas, but often not enough for very dry skin.^{2 5}
• Cream: Mid-weight water-in-oil or oil-in-water product; suitable for moderate dryness and most daily use.^{2 5}
• Ointment: High-oil, low-water product; useful for very dry, scaly or cracked skin, but can feel greasy.^{2 5}

Staff should understand these terms so they can match the product type to the patient’s skin and treatment plan.

4. Policy Statement

Newcastle Cosmetic Doctor treats daily moisturiser use as an important part of medical skin care, especially in patients with dry, sensitive, post-procedure or eczema-prone skin.^{3 4} Such patients should generally be advised to use a suitable moisturiser at least once or twice daily, and more often when the skin feels dry or irritated.^{4 6} Moisturiser advice given in the clinic must align with current recommendations from Australian and Australasian dermatology and primary-care guidelines.^{3 4}

5. Choosing the Right Moisturiser & Reading the Packaging

Many patients buy moisturisers based on marketing, scent or price rather than skin needs. The clinic’s goal is to teach patients to choose products that support barrier health, avoid irritation and match their level of dryness.

5.1 General principles

Patients should be told that a suitable moisturiser for medical skin care is usually:

• Plain and low-irritant: minimal fragrance, no strong botanical or food-based ingredients, and no harsh surfactants.^{4 7}
• Appropriate texture: thicker products for drier skin; lighter textures mainly when dryness is mild or the area is hairy.^{2 5}
• Used generously and regularly: small amounts applied occasionally are not enough to maintain barrier function in dry or eczema-prone skin.^{2 6}

For most medical purposes, simple, thick, fragrance-free creams or ointments are preferred over perfumed lotions.^{4 6}

5.2 What to look for on the front of the pack

On the front label, staff should tell patients to look for:

1. Indication for dry or sensitive skin – phrases such as “for dry skin”, “very dry skin”, “eczema-prone” or “barrier repair” are more relevant than purely cosmetic anti-ageing claims.^{1 6}
2. Fragrance-free or low-irritant – particularly for sensitive, post-procedure or eczema-prone skin.^{4 7}
3. Cream or ointment for medical dry-skin care – thicker textures are usually more effective for barrier support than very thin cosmetic lotions.^{2 5}

Patients should be reminded that marketing terms like “natural” or “organic” do not guarantee that a product is gentle or suitable for eczema-prone or highly sensitive skin.⁷

5.3 What to read on the back of the pack

The back of the container contains the most useful information. Staff should encourage patients to check:

• Ingredient list: fragrance, essential oils, strong botanical extracts and some food-derived additives (e.g. nut, milk, oat, certain plant oils) may irritate or sensitise eczema-prone or highly sensitive skin, and are often best avoided in those groups.^{4 7}
• Formulation type: for very dry, scaly or winter-affected skin, creams and ointments (higher oil content) are preferred to high-water lotions, which can be inadequate and may worsen dryness.^{5 6}
• Directions for use: products intended for medical dry-skin care will usually recommend regular, liberal application, sometimes multiple times per day.^{2 4}
• Storage advice and expiry date: moisturisers should be stored per label directions and not used beyond expiry.²

Staff should demonstrate label reading during consultations where moisturiser choice is discussed, similar to the sunscreen policy approach.

5.4 Matching moisturiser type to skin and situation

Staff should use the following practical matching rules:

Mild dryness / generally normal skin:

• Light cream or lotion may be sufficient.²
• Fragrance-free options are still preferable for anyone with a history of sensitivity.⁶
• Moderate dryness:
• Use a cream formulation with higher oil content, particularly on trunk and limbs.⁵
• Recommend twice-daily use as a base routine.⁴

Severe dryness, scaling or eczema flares:

• Prefer ointments or very thick creams, as these reduce water loss more effectively.^{2 5}
• Explain that ointments feel greasier but can provide stronger barrier support.²

Post-procedure (laser, peels, energy devices):

• Use simple, fragrance-free creams or ointments, sometimes labelled “barrier repair”, “sensitive” or “post-procedure”.^{1 2}
• Avoid active cosmeceuticals (retinoids, strong acids, high-level actives) until the clinician advises they can be reintroduced.⁹

Eczema / atopic dermatitis:

• Emollients and moisturisers are a key part of background therapy and should be continued even when the eczema appears controlled.^{3 4}
• Thick, plain, fragrance-free creams or ointments are usually preferred; thin lotions are often inadequate.^{4 6}

Face vs body:

• On the face, use non-comedogenic creams or lighter ointments, applied in smaller amounts but on a regular basis.^{2 7}
• On the body, thicker creams or ointments can be used more liberally.⁵

These recommendations should be recorded in patient care plans where moisturiser has an important role.

6. Application – How Patients Should Actually Use Moisturiser

6.1 General rules

Patients should be told that moisturiser works best when:

• It is applied regularly (at least once or twice daily in most dry or eczema-prone patients, and more often during flares).^{2 6}
• It is applied liberally, not as a tiny cosmetic layer.^{2 9}
• It is used even when the skin looks “okay”, to help maintain the barrier and support flare prevention.^{3 6}

A simple message can be used: for many people with dry or eczema-prone skin, moisturiser is “like a daily medicine for your skin”, rather than a luxury product.³

6.2 Best time to apply – “within 3 minutes”

Evidence and expert guidance support applying moisturiser soon after bathing, while the skin is still slightly damp, to “lock in” water.^{5 8} Patients should be advised to:

1. Take short showers or baths in lukewarm, not hot, water.^{5 6}
2. Gently pat the skin dry with a soft towel, avoiding vigorous rubbing.⁵
3. Apply moisturiser within about 3 minutes of getting out, while the skin is still warm and slightly damp.^{5 8}

This “soak and seal” approach is particularly useful in xerosis and eczema-prone skin.^{5 8}

6.3 How much to apply and how often

Unlike sunscreen, there is no strict “teaspoon rule”, but the principle is “more and often” for dry and eczema-prone skin.^{2 3} Patients should be told:

• Use enough so that the skin feels comfortably coated and slightly sheeny, not just barely touched.²
• For eczema-prone areas, moisturiser is typically recommended at least twice daily, and more often whenever the skin feels dry or itchy.^{4 6}
• Children and adults with extensive eczema may require large quantities, often several hundred grams of cream or ointment per week.^{3 4}

Staff can frame it simply: “If the pump bottle is still nearly full after a month, you’re probably not using enough.”

6.4 Application technique – face and body

For face:

• Patients should use clean hands and apply small amounts of cream or ointment, then gently smooth over cheeks, forehead, nose, chin and around the eyes, avoiding direct contact with the eye itself.^{1 2}
• For acne-prone patients, non-comedogenic products are preferred and very heavy ointments on the central T-zone are usually avoided unless specifically recommended.^{2 7}

For body:

• Patients can apply moisturiser in long strokes along the arms and legs, then smooth in with gentle circular movements.⁵
• Hard-to-reach areas such as the back may need help from another person or a longer-handled applicator.¹

Patients should be told that moisturiser can usually be used generously over most of the body surface, except where a clinician has given different instructions (for example, around certain wounds or dressings).²

6.5 Interaction with topical medicines (e.g. steroids)

Where patients are using topical corticosteroids or other medicated creams, the order of application should be clarified. Current guidelines generally recommend applying the medicated product to active areas first, then moisturiser more widely.^{3 8}

• Patients should apply prescribed topical steroids directly to inflamed patches as instructed.³
• After a short interval to allow absorption, they can apply moisturiser over and around the area.^{3 8}

Staff must give clear, written instructions in eczema care plans to avoid confusion about order and frequency.

6.6 Common mistakes patients make with moisturisers

Staff should actively correct:

• Using perfumed or strongly cosmetic products on eczema-prone or post-procedure skin.^{4 6}
• Choosing thin lotions for very dry or scaly skin, which are often not sufficient and may worsen xerosis.^{5 6}
• Applying moisturiser only when the skin is flaring, instead of as regular barrier maintenance.^{3 7}
• Using products with food-based ingredients (e.g. some nut oils, milk, oats) on eczema-prone children, due to potential sensitisation risk noted in some guidance.^{6 7}

These behaviours are common and contribute to poor control of dryness and eczema, despite patients saying they “use moisturiser”.

7. Special Populations

• Eczema / atopic dermatitis: Regular liberal use of emollients and moisturisers is considered a key component of background therapy, can help reduce flares, and may reduce topical steroid requirements in some patients.^{3 4}
• Infants and children: Daily moisturiser use supports barrier care; in high-risk infants, early regular moisturiser use has been suggested in some studies to help reduce the risk of developing atopic dermatitis, although the evidence is not definitive and practice should follow current specialist advice.^{3 6}
• Post-procedure (laser, peels, energy devices): Simple, fragrance-free barrier creams or ointments should be used frequently until the treating doctor clears the return to more active products.^{1 2}
• Older adults and xerosis: Ageing skin often has impaired barrier function and may need thicker, greasier products, especially on the legs, to help prevent cracking and itch.^{5 6}

These recommendations should be tailored to the individual patient, but the general principle of regular, generous, low-irritant moisturiser use is consistent.

8. Storage

Moisturisers should be stored according to label instructions, usually in a cool, dry place away from direct heat or sunlight.² Products that have changed texture, colour or smell should be discarded, even if they are within expiry, and patients should be advised not to decant creams into unclean containers which may introduce contamination.¹

9. Common Patient Errors

Typical errors that staff should look for and correct include:

• Applying very small amounts, as if using a cosmetic serum, rather than liberal coverage.^{2 9}
• Only moisturising visible or itchy areas, instead of treating the whole dry or eczema-prone region.³
• Stopping moisturiser completely as soon as the skin looks better, leading to frequent relapses.^{3 6}
• Continuing to use strongly fragranced “body lotions” on sensitive or post-procedure skin.^{4 6}

Correcting these behaviours can significantly improve comfort and treatment outcomes without adding complex medications.

10. Staff Responsibilities

Doctors and injectors must incorporate moisturiser advice into treatment plans where skin barrier, dryness or eczema are relevant, and document this education in the clinical notes.^{3 4} Therapists and skin clinicians should demonstrate appropriate moisturiser type and application technique, especially for eczema, post-laser or post-peel patients.⁴ Reception and admin staff may provide printed or digital information but should refer detailed clinical questions back to treating clinicians.

11. Patient Education Materials

The clinic will provide:

• A short, plain-language guide explaining why moisturiser matters and how often to use it.^{1 2}
• Diagrams showing how to apply moisturiser to face and body, including key dry-prone areas such as lower legs and hands.⁵
• A checklist of what to look for on labels for dry, sensitive and eczema-prone skin.^{4 6}
• A list of clinic-approved moisturisers (creams and ointments) suitable for various skin types and post-procedure care.²

These materials should be reviewed regularly to stay aligned with current guidelines.

12. Training & Audit

All clinical staff must complete annual training on basic skin-barrier care, including moisturiser selection and application guidance.^{3 4} Periodic audits of patient notes and written materials should confirm that moisturiser education is being documented and that advice aligns with this policy. Where new high-quality evidence or guideline updates emerge, this policy and associated patient materials should be revised.^{2 9}

Sources

1. DermNet New Zealand (2024). Moisturisers – patient information leaflet [pdf]. DermNet NZ. Available at: https://pro.dermnetnz.org/assets/patient-resources/Moisturisers/Patient-info-moisturisers.pdf (Accessed 21 November 2025). ↩
2. DermNet New Zealand (2023). Emollients and moisturisers [online]. DermNet NZ. Available at: https://dermnetnz.org/topics/emollients-and-moisturisers (Accessed 21 November 2025). ↩
3. Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) (2016). ‘Atopic dermatitis in children’, Australian Family Physician 45(5), pp. 293–296. Available at: https://www.racgp.org.au/afp/2016/may/atopic-dermatitis-in-children (Accessed 21 November 2025). ↩
4. Royal Children’s Hospital Melbourne (2024). Clinical Practice Guidelines: Eczema [online]. RCH. Available at: https://www.rch.org.au/clinicalguide/guideline_index/eczema/ (Accessed 21 November 2025). ↩
5. Australasian College of Dermatologists (2022). A–Z of Skin: Xerosis (dry skin) [online]. ACD. Available at: https://www.dermcoll.edu.au/atoz/xerosis/ (Accessed 21 November 2025). ↩
6. Healthdirect Australia (2025). Eczema – symptoms, causes and treatment [online]. Healthdirect. Available at: https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/eczema (Accessed 21 November 2025). ↩
7. Eczema Association of Australasia (2024). Eczema management [online]. Eczema Support Australia. Available at: https://www.eczemasupport.org.au/eczema-management/ (Accessed 21 November 2025). ↩
8. DermNet New Zealand (2023). Topical formulations – tips for using topical agents [online]. DermNet NZ. Available at: https://dermnetnz.org/topics/topical-formulations (Accessed 21 November 2025). ↩
9. Purnamawati S, Indrastuti N, Danarti R, Saefudin T (2017). ‘The role of moisturizers in addressing various kinds of dermatitis: a review’, Clinical Medicine & Research 15(3–4), pp. 75–87. Available at: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5849435/ (Accessed 21 November 2025). ↩