Moisturizers are mixtures of oil and water which trap water within the skin, making it more pliable, looking and feeling less dry, and smoother and softer. This allows make-up to be applied more evenly. Moisturizers can also plump up the skin, making wrinkles less visible. They do not, however, prevent wrinkles, treat wrinkles, or alter the ageing process. They are analogous to hair conditioners. Moisturizers work in three main ways:

- Moisturizers can have an occlusive action, whereby the surface of the skin is ‘glued’ down, preventing water evaporation. Heavier moisturizing creams provide a thicker glue, which decreases water loss. Thicker preparations include lanolin, petrolatum, paraffin and mineral oils. These products may block the pores, resulting in blackheads, whiteheads and acne but are useful for older people with very dry skin.

- Humectants are substances which draw water from the deeper layers of the skin to the surface. This means that the deeper layers become dehydrated at the expense of the surface. Collagen, elastin, glycerine, propylene, glycol, sorbitol, vitamins A and E and many other proteins act as humectants. However, if the surface of the skin is damaged, all the water escapes and both the top and deeper layers of the skin are left dehydrated.

- Liposomes are little capsules which bind to the surface of the skin and release moisture on to the cell membranes. Although this sounds very fancy, it is really just another way of applying a moisturizer.

Most moisturizers contain both glue-type substances and humectants. They draw water to the surface of the skin and keep it there, making the skin look plumper and smoother. Super-rich moisturizing creams and night creams contain a higher quantity of glue-like substances, and so trap in water for longer periods of time. On the other hand, they are responsible for many blemishes due to their suffocating effect on the skin. Despite all this, moisturizers do not alter the ageing process, nor do they repair the damage caused by excessive sun exposure.

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“Doctor, please see what has happened to my child. He has been such a charming youngster, full of life and mirth all along. But lately he has started getting sort of fits of depression which suddenly attacks like a bolt from the blue and leaves him totally paralysed. He becomes immobile, is drenched with sweat, cannot utter a word, colour leaves his face and looks the very embodiment of gloom.

After sometime the dark cloud lifts by itself and he heaves a sigh of relief.

The tragedy of the whole affair is that the child does not know what happens to him and the doctor does not know the cause or its remedy. The specialists dismiss the case by simple “change of mood” of the child.

The child has refused to go to school today. He is afraid of the untimely and unexpected fit of depression in the presence of his school mates. ‘Mimulus’ (for fear of the fit) and ‘MUSTARD’ (for prevention of such fits of depression in future) were prescribed T.D.S for one week. After one week Mimulus was discontinued as there was no longer any fear in the child. But ‘MUSTARD’ was continued for 3 months, after which the child was declared cured.

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