Feel the
difference
with
Distributed in the UK by Crawford Healthcare Ltd
www.crawfordhealthcare.com© Crawford Healthcare Ltd 2012
‘Ego’ and ‘QV’ are trademarks of Ego Pharmaceuticals Pty Ltd in Australia and other countries. © 2010 Ego. [email protected] www.egopharm.com
1. McElroy J: Dry Skin. Continuing Education Dermatology.
New Zealand Pharmacy. June 2004. Page 33.
2. Taylor E.A., “Cutaneous Adsorption of Bath Oils,” Arch
Dermat 1963, pp. 87:369.
3. Dermatest Pty Ltd., Report of Evaluation of Skin Hydration,
KG / 20060 / (B)38943 / 000 / 025, January 2012.
4. Campbell M.A., “Investigations into the pH of Various
Soaps and Skin Products available in New Zealand,”
Pharm Jour of NZ 1979.
5. White M.I., Jenkinson D.M., Lloyd D.H., “The effect of
washing on the thickness of the stratum corneum in normal
and atopic individuals,” Br Jour of Derm, Vol 116, No. 4,
April 1987, pp. 116, 525-530.
6. Cork M.J., “The importance of skin barrier function,”
J Derma Treat 1997, 8:S7-13.
7. Lucky A.W., Leach A.D., Laskarzewiski P., Wenck H.,
“Use of an Emollient as a Steroid-Sparing Agent in the
Treatment of Mild to Moderate Atopic Dermatitis in
Children,” Paedi Derm, 1997, 4:321-324.
8. Brander J.M. Pores in the epidermis: aquaporins and tight
junctions (Review). Int J Cosmet Sci. 29:413-422. 2007.
9. Grieve K: Glycerine, the naturally effective humectant.
Derm Nurse. 2012; 11(1):30-34.
10. Fishor A.A., Contact Dermatitis, (3rd ed.) Lea & Febiger,
Philadelphia. 1986, pp. 249.
11. Brewster B. Aquaporins: Stimulating AQP3, Cosmetics
and Toiletries, 123:6. p20-26. June 2008.
12. Loden, Maibach, 2006.
13. Hara, Verkman, 2003.
14. Rawlings et al, 2004.
15. Umbach W., “Cosmeceuticals – The future of cosmetics?”
Cosmetics and Toiletries. 110(11):33-40, 1995.
Ingredients Moisturising Rating
CleansingRating
Indications Pack Size PIP Code
CLEANSERS
QV Gentle Wash
Glycerol 15% H H H H H H H H
Medium foaming cleanser
Gentle blend of mild surfactants
Moisturising
pH balanced
For dry or sensitive skin
250ml 363-9176
500ml 363-9168
QV Bath OilLight Liquid
Paraffin 85%H H H H H H
Water dispersible bath oil
Ideal for moisturising large areas
Non-greasy
Mild cleanser
Suitable for infants
For dry or sensitive skin
250ml 367-1849
500ml 327-3307
MOISTURISERS
QV Skin Lotion
Glycerol 5%,
Soft White
Paraffin 5%
H H H
Light moisturising lotion
Easy to apply
All-over body moisturiser
For normal or sensitive skin
250ml 327-3331
500ml 363-9341
QV Cream
Glycerol 10%,
Light Liquid
Paraffin 10%,
Soft White
Paraffin 5%
H H H H
Highly concentrated moisturising cream
Ideal for areas that need extra hydration
For dry or sensitive skin
100g 327-3315
500g 327-3323
1050g 363-9143
QV Intensive Ointment
Light Liquid
Paraffin 50.5%,
Soft White
Paraffin 20%
H H H H H
Highly emollient balm
Preservative-free
Water-free
For chronically dry skin
450g 363-9150
The complete range for different levels of dry skin
Cleansing and moisturising ratings have been developed based on the amount of moisturisers and cleansers in each product.
Ratings are relative to products within the same category.
Get to helpQool Vince loves helping children make the most of QV’s
range and has produced a range of compliance materials,
including leaflets, posters, stickers and colouring books.
To get yours or to request product samples, ask your emollient
prescriber for more details, email [email protected]
or call 01565 654920.
You can also get lots of useful information and download
leaflets or pictures to colour in at www.qvskincare.co.uk
Meet This is Qool Vince – QV to his friends.
Like you, QV does everything he can
to help children with sore and itchy skin.
He provides a friendly face across
a wide range of helpful information
leaflets and compliance materials,
explaining the QV range to parents
and encouraging children to keep
using their prescribed emollients.
Total emollient therapy from Experts agree that a programme of total emollient therapy is
one of the best ways to relieve discomfort and manage flare-
ups. That means adopting a 2-stage routine of cleansing and
moisturising to help repair and rehydrate skin, around the clock.
The QV range provides all the products a child needs for this
2-stage process, soothing sensitive skin conditions, morning,
noon and night.
The QV range is one of the few brands to use glycerol in
many of its products, so it feels smoother on the skin. It’s also
completely free from SLS (sodium lauryl sulphate). Here’s what
you’ll find right across the QV range:
• pH balanced so they don’t cause irritation to the skin’s
acid mantle
• Gentle surfactants for effective cleansing without irritation
• High levels of emollients and gentle humectants
• Products that have been dermatologically tested
• No colours, fragrances, propylene glycol, lanolin or
its derivatives
• Glycerol formulation that feels great on the skin
• Non-comedogenic formula, so they don’t block pores
• Free of urea, which is used in many other emollients
Urea can be irritating to skin, especially if skin is inflamed1
products for every part of the dayOur grading system helps you decide what to recommend
for different times and different types of dry skin. Products
are graded 1 to 4, with 1 being the lightest (for dry but not
sore skin) and Grade 4 the highest (for night-times when skin
might flare up).
Corneocytes
Lipids
Healthy Skin
What makes glycerol so effective?Glycerol is a naturally occurring humectant that isn’t greasy, so
it leaves skin feeling smooth and soft, without blocking pores.
A few facts about glycerol
• Glycerol is a naturally occurring humectant found in animal
and vegetable fats, as well as human skin9
• It was discovered in 1779 but its benefits to the skin have
only recently been verified
• It protects the skin from the effects of washing, detergents
and allergens9
• It’s transported into the skin cells by recently discovered
transporting proteins called aquaporins (AQP3s)9
• The effects of poorly functioning, low numbers or incorrectly
expressed AQP3 can be mitigated by the topical application
of glycerol9
Glycerol and skin hydrationGlycerol (sometimes known as glycerin) is an effective humectant
capable of attracting and holding water. It’s an effective skin
plasticiser,10 is non-toxic, non-allergenic and non-irritating to
the skin. Cases of sensitisation to glycerol are rare.
How glycerol is transported into the skinGlycerol is a humectant, so where glycerol goes, water will
follow. Aquaporins (specifically aquaglyceroporins) are a family
of proteins that form channels to facilitate water transportation
across cell membranes.8 Aquaporins (AQP3s) co-transport water
and glycerol into and out of the epidermis.8
Glycerol transportation, both topically and systemically through
stimulated AQP3 (Aquaporin) channels has a direct impact on
improved skin hydration, elasticity and barrier function recovery.11
AQP3
Glycerol
transport
Cell
proliferation
Water transport
Cell migration
Wound
healingBarrier recovery
SC hydration
Skin elasticity
Lipid synthesis
Glycerol content
Glycerol plays an active role in skin hydration, skin cell turnover and lipid balance• Glycerol is among the most effective humectants12 and can
absorb its own weight in water.13
• Applying it twice a day for ten days leads to an
accumulation of glycerol in the stratum corneum.12
• It helps lipid balance by inhibiting lipid phase transition
at low humidity.12
• Topical application of glycerol-containing moisturisers
induces the maturation of the corneocytes, making them
more resilient as they move to the skin surface.14
Light liquid and soft white paraffinAs well as glycerol, QV products use light liquid paraffin and
soft white paraffin. Light liquid paraffin is an emollient that
promotes rehydration and suppleness of the skin.2 Soft white
paraffin is an occlusive agent with excellent emollience.15 It is
non-toxic, non-irritating and non-carcinogenic.11,15
The benefits of not using soapEven mild soap can be highly alkaline
and can strip away the skin’s natural
layer of protective oils.4 Soap also
reduces the thickness and number of
cell layers in the stratum corneum,
leaving the skin dry and potentially
susceptible to infection.5
The crucial role of emollientsEmollients have an indirect anti-inflammatory
action and may have a direct anti-proliferative
effect on the skin.6 They help to decrease the
severity of atopic dermatitis and are important
in preventing recurrence.6 Emollient therapy
also has a steroid sparing effect.6,7
How helps stop skin drying outAquaporins (AQP3s) are pH sensitive8 and at a
pH of ~ 5 skin pH, they are inhibited. If the pH of
the stratum corneum increases, AQP3s become
permeable. For example, if you use soap that has
a high pH, the AQP3 will become permeable and
water loss from the stratum corneum will increase.
This causes the skin to dry out. By using a pH
balanced QV product, you can help to increase
glycerol transportation without promoting water
loss through the stratum corneum.
Emollients restore
epidermal barrierEnvironmental
triggers
Factors impairing
epidermal barrier
IL-1
Scratch
Itch
Eczematous
LesionsInflammatory
Mediators
Secondary
Cytokines
Intensive Ointment
Grade 4
Cream
Grade 3
SkinLotion
Grade 2
BathOil
Grade 1
Gentle Wash
Grade 1
Very dry and sensitive Dry
Stratum corneum,pH ~ 5
Epidermis,pH ~ 7
Dermis
AQP3
AQP3 – Glycerin Transportation
Corneocytes
moisture irritantsDry Skin
QV Gentle Wash (Grade 1)
A mild, foaming cleanser, pH balanced
to moisturise sensitive skin.
QV Bath Oil (Grade 1)
Safe, non-slip formula that disperses
easily in water. Made with light
liquid paraffin, which has better skin
absorption than vegetable oils or
oatmeal baths.2 Ideal for infants.
QV Skin Lotion (Grade 2)
A light, moisturising all-over body
lotion that can be used all day.
QV Cream (Grade 3)
A highly concentrated, rich moisturising
cream that’s ideal for areas that need
extra hydration (like elbows and knees).
Research showed that, 24 hours after
a single application, skin hydration was
still 41.9% better than time 0, before
QV Cream was applied.3
QV Intensive Ointment
(Grade 4)
A highly emollient balm that protects
and soothes sore skin and promotes
healing.
Proposed mechanism of AQP3 –
adapted from Brewster B.11
Itch Scratch Cycle – adapted from Cork MJ.6
