Frequent Asked Questions (FAQ)

A mechanical peeling with coarse-grained, sharp edged particles could obviously damage the outer layer of the skin and impair its protective function. When we developed Eucerin® DermoPURIFYER Scrub, we definitely took this into consideration. We purposely selected mild peeling particles and tensides to make the scrub appropriate also for a daily use. We recommend the use of a scrub twice a week. The key ingredient, Lactic Acid, also supports exfoliation, not in a mechanical way, but chemically. It´s the skin´s own alpha-hydroxy acid (AHA) responsible for mild exfoliation. The Lactic Acid, found in the beads of the Scrub, releases into the formula as you cleanse. We recommend using DermoPURIFYER Toner after Scrub followed by the Creme as your oil-free daily moisturizer.

Since puberty you have only had a few blemishes. Now you´re pregnant and your complexion looks like a teenager´s again. You need something to improve your skin, but you certainly don´t want to use anything that could harm your baby.

You can safely use Eucerin® DermoPURIFYER products during pregnancy and while nursing. Eucerin® places high demands on its formulas. We test all products for safety and skin compatibility prior to putting them on the market. We select only high quality ingredients and use them in safe concentrations for cosmetic products.

The Eucerin® DermoPURIFYER Toner and Creme contain Lactic Acid, skin´s own natural moisturizing factor (NMF) found in its top layers. It does not penetrate into the deeper skin layers, so it´s safe to use during pregnancy. Eucerin® DermoPURIFYER Cleanser does contain salicylic acid in a very low concentration (considerably lower than 1%). It is used in this product exclusively as a preservative. You should not use concentrations of salicylic acid greater than 1% during pregnancy. Eucerin® DermoPURIFYER Cleanser does not reach this limit and is safe to use. The new Eucerin® DermoPURIFYER Stick contains salicylic acid to treat blemishes in an effective way. Due to the direct application modus the concentration can be reduced under 1% and therefore this product can be used also during pregnancy and while nursing.

Having dry skin (for example, on your cheeks) and oily skin in the T-zone is actually quite common. You probably thought oily skin, blemishes and acne would go away once you headed into adulthood. Unfortunately, that´s often not the case. Hormone fluctuations induced by puberty and stress change the way the sebaceous glands react to testosterone. As a result, the glands produce more sebum (oil). This oil plugs the skin follicles, bacteria begin to grow and the area becomes inflamed. The combination of these (excess oil, irregular removal of dead skin cells and bacteria) leads to blemishes and acne, symptoms of which include pimples, blackheads, dilated pores, shiny or irritated areas.

Consistently following a daily skincare regimen can help balance both the dry and oily areas. We suggest cleansing with Eucerin® DermoPURIFYER Cleanser. This gentle cleanser removes the excess oil from the skin, while effectively fighting bacteria without leaving your skin feeling tight or dry. Follow with Toner which contains the key ingredient Lactic Acid. Known to fight bacteria and exfoliate skin, Lactic Acid is also one of skin´s own natural moisturizing factors (NMF´s). Apply DermoPURIYFER Creme as your oil-free daily moisturizer.

If your skin remains very dry in certain areas (such as your cheeks), you can use an additional moisturizing cream after applying the DermoPURIYFER Creme. We suggest Eucerin® Sensitive Facial Skin Hydro-Balance or Dry Skin Relief Face Cream with 5% Urea.

Seborrhoeic eczema occurs in various forms in infants and adults. We do not really know what causes this condition, but in many cases, sebaceous glands produce an excess of sebum (oil). Since it´s easily confused with psoriasis, you may want to get the opinion of more than one dermatologist.

Make sure to cleanse skin regularly to help remove excess sebum. Use oil-free products (you want to eliminate oil, not add more). You do want to use a daily moisturizer especially if you are on medications which dry you out, such as isotretinoin. We suggest cleansing with Eucerin® DermoPURIFYER Cleanser followed by DermoPURIFYER Toner. Follow with DermoPURIFYER Creme as your oil-free daily moisturizer.

Due to the natural ageing process but also due to sun exposure dermal collagen – responsible for the firmness of the skin - is decomposed.

In the traditional Chinese medicine the vessel dilating and perfusion stimulating effect of ginkgo biloba is known for centuries. The oxygen supply of cells improves, 

collagen production is activated and free radicals are quenched.

Ursolic acid can be extracted from varying medical plants like rosemary, peppermint and lavender. As an active ingredient in medical face care products ursolic acid stimulates the collagen synthesis and improves the inner firmness of the skin.

80% of the dermal connective tissue consists of collagen. Collagen is a protein that sustains the structure of the skin. Its network is significantly responsible for the skin´s firmness. Due to the natural ageing process and UV-exposure collagen is decomposed. The skin loses its tautness and firmness and wrinkles aggravate. 

Therefore, active ingredients like ursolic acid, ginkgo biloba and arctiin with the ability to stimulate the collagen production are necessary to improve the appearance of wrinkles.

Clinical studies prove a visible wrinkle reduction after 5 weeks of regular use of the Eucerin® Q10 Active products. 

Due to incorporated hyaluronic acid a visible short-term effect with a reduction of wrinkles becomes visible immediately after application of Eucerin® Hyaluron-Filler. Furthermore, stimulation of skin´s own hyaluronic acid production by saponin also guarantees long-term efficacy with an additional wrinkle reduction visibly after 4 weeks.

In clinical studies firmer facial skin could be measured after 4 weeks of regular use of Eucerin® Modelliance day and night care. Eucerin ® Anti-Pigment showed a visible reduction of hyperpigmentations after 8 weeks of regular application.

Products specifically developed for the eye area contain special lipid components with a very low spreading capacity to make sure they do not reach the eyes' conjunctiva (mucous membrane that lines the exposed portion of the eyeball and inner surface of the eyelids) and cause tears or burning. These ideal lipid components are usually used only in special eye products.

L-Arginine is an essential amino acid. For the Eucerin products it is obtained biotechnologically from sugar cane. L-arginine is a natural component of the skin which, as a natural moisturizing factor (NMF), increases the skin's moisture. In addition, as an amino acid, it helps to regulate the skin's acid base and supports its barrier function. Re-Balance Cream contains 1% L-arginine.

Found in all body tissues Coenzyme Q10 (also known as ubiquinone) is very important for cells' energy supply. Coenzyme Q10 is a skin's own anti-oxidant proven to fight premature skin aging. Human Coenzyme Q10 has a specific chemical structure (which differs from microorganisms, plants and lower animals). The Q10 incorporated in Eucerin® products is biotechnologically produced with the help of yeast. This Q10 has the exact chemical structure as the Q10 found in the human body and can be absorbed and metabolized easily.

Eucerin® Skin Research developed a method to evaluate the activity of the enzyme trypsin present in the topmost layer of the skin. Lab tests proved that the Eucerin® Sensitive Skin cleansing products protect the enzyme activity and that the care products activate it to strengthen the skin's natural defenses from the inside out.

Eucerin® pH5 cleansing and moisturizing products contain very mild, dermatologically tested ingredients ideal for sensitive skin and sensitive dry skin. All Eucerin® pH5 products, which have excellent skin compatibility, protect your skin against daily environmental stress. The citrate buffers contained in all Eucerin® pH5 products naturally stabilize the hydrolipid film of the skin. Vitamin E and dexpanthenol protect your skin against free radicals.

In the case of vitiligo, an effective medical sun protection product is particularly important for the depigmented skin area. For this purpose in the Eucerin® Sun Protection product line Sun Creme 50+ and Sun Fluid 50+ are available.

With regard to further diagnosis and special treatment, you should also consult with your dermatologist.

Tinosorb®S (ingredient: Bis-ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine) is a highly effective, UV-stable broadband filter. That means the therapeutic spectrum covers both UVA and UVB radiation. Tinosorb® S is a chemical UV filter that primarily absorbs the UV radiation on the skin. This sun protection filter stands out from the other well-known broadband filters due to its high efficiency. In order to achieve comparable protection against UV radiation, a considerably lower concentration of Tinosorb® S is required. Also, the concentrations of the other filters additionally used can be considerably reduced through the use of Tinosorb®S.

Our products offer no protection against infrared radiation because no damaging effect of infrared radiation has been known up to now, except in the cases of people heavily exposed to it, such as steelworkers. In contrast, the heat generated by insulation is a biological warning signal for the body to get out of the sun. Additionally, there are no corresponding filter substances that could be used in the products.

An increased UVB load means — according to the opinion of leading dermatologists — an increased risk of cancer. In contrast, the UVA radiation can lead to chronic sun-caused damages, such as premature skin aging. Although the external skin layer renews itself every four weeks from the bottom up, it shows considerable signs of such aging. Scars, wrinkles and other skin changes narrate what your skin has experienced. The skin forgets nothing, particularly not sunburn. Your skin heals itself on a purely superficial level, and though it’s invisible at first, sun-caused damage has been irrevocably burnt into the skin. During the course of your life, the consequences of excessive UV radiation emerge: Premature skin aging and under certain circumstances, even skin cancer. That is why it depends on your skin type and personal lifestyle as to when the first wrinkles appear.

The skin's actual protection time in the sun is not influenced by sweating. It depends on the person's pigmentation type, how accustomed the person is to the sun and the UVB intensity at the location of the radiation. It is determined by the following factors: Sun's position, geographical altitude, extent of air pollution, ozone content of the atmosphere, scattered radiation and reflection. At different locations during different times of the year you should expect considerably changing erythema (or redness) threshold times.

Yes! The risk of developing skin cancer is related to UV exposure during life time. The so called non-melanoma skin cancers are mostly on chronically sun-exposed skin, especially on the head and nape. In contrast melanoma (dark skin cancer) is more related to acute, intensive irradiation, mainly during leisure activity with sunburn reactions.

People with birthmarks (naevi/nevi) should be careful in the sun. We recommend having an annual and thorough check-up from a dermatologist. Luckily, only very few people suffer from a multitude of "noticeable" birthmarks (dysplastic naevi). They have an increased risk of developing dark skin cancer (melanoma) and should keep sun exposure to a minimum.

Certain antibiotics and other medications make your skin sensitive to the sun and increase the risk of serious sunburn. Look up the relevant information on the packaging of your medication or consult your doctor or ask your pharmacists.

In no way should you expose reddened or burned skin to the sun, even if you've applied sunscreen. Cold compresses help to relieve the skin because they draw the heat out. With burns, the body loses more fluid than normal, so you should drink a lot of water. If you experience serious sunburn with spreading redness or blisters, as well as have a fever and chills, please consult a doctor!

No, we urgently advice against this. The lamps in tanning beds do not emit the natural UV spectrum of sun with UVA and UVB rays, rather only the long-wave UVA radiation. The result of this is that the skin does not become accustomed to the UVB radiation.

Alpha glucosyl rutin (AGR) is a radical catcher with a high antioxidant effect - considerably stronger than vitamin E. The formation of highly reactive free radicals in the skin is initiated by UV radiant energy. These free radicals cause lipid oxidation and changes to the DNA. Radical catchers bond with these free radicals and neutralize them.

Together with vitamin E, alpha glucosyl rutin forms a radical catcher complex that can be applied externally and which also significantly minimizes UV-induced oxidative stress. In clinical studies, we have demonstrated that sunscreen products with active cell protection and vitamin E can considerably reduce the symptoms of polymorphous light dermatosis (PLD), which is triggered by, among others, the formation of free radicals.

The waterresistant test basis for Eucerin® Sun Protection products is geared toward the American FDA test standards. The protective product is applied to the underarm of a test person, and then the arm is held under water in a whirlpool for two intervals of 20 minutes each. Afterwards, the applied product on the underarm must still indicate 50% of the original protection level. However, the waterresistant test provides no information regarding the product's resistance to friction. Friction, such as drying off, sand contact, wind, causes up to 80% of the sun protection product to rub off onto a towel or to disappear. After swimming and drying off, you have to re-apply sunscreen, even waterresistant sun protection products. UV protection in and on the water is of particular importance because the water lets UV radiation pass through and its reflection increases its intensity. Especially during beach holidays, make sure to reapply sunscreen more often than the SPF would indicate. As soon as you have exceeded 2/3 of this time, the skin can be damaged even without it necessarily burning.

Micropigment sun protection products contain no chemical sun protection filters. Protection against UVA and UVB radiation is achieved through the reflection of the light on the finest mineral particles (titanium oxide or zinc oxide). The fine particle sizes leave a smooth protective film on the skin, which can be guaranteed in products with a high sun protection factor (>25) only by means of a high portion of mineral pigments in the product. That's why you might get the so-called "white effect" on your skin that shows even distribution and a high level of protection. Showering with a regular shower gel easily removes this film.

In general, babies under 7 months should not be exposed to direct sunlight. Energy-rich sunlight results in an extraordinarily high circulation stress in children's bodies. Avoid direct sun and protect babies from sunlight with appropriate clothing.

Starting at 7 months, you can try pure micropigment (e.g. titanium dioxide) products. The barrier function of the outer epidermal layer in children is only weakly developed, the skin's irritability and also the danger of allergy is higher. Micropigments protect children's sensitive skin by laying down a protective layer. In contrast to chemical filters, no allergies are induced. Starting at the age of 3, extra waterproof sunscreen products with a high SPF protect children's sensitive skin.

Active sun protection for all children:

• Never expose small children to direct sun (circulation stress, skin offers very little inherent protection)
• Avoid midday sun
• Stay in the shadow (e.g. under a sun umbrella)
• Wear light, but thickly woven clothing
• Wear a hat with broad brim
• Wear sun protection for the eyes (labelled ‘with UV protection’)

In general, the following applies to children's products:

No fragrances and colorants due to possible development of allergies Use extra waterresistant products.

Possible reasons may include not applying enough sunscreen. You should not apply less than the recommended application amount of 2 mg/cm2 (~35 mg per application). The skin type of the user also plays another important role. If you have a very fair complexion, your sun protection period is only 5 minutes. Sunscreen with a sun protection factor of 20 extends your sun exposure period accordingly, so that fair-skinned people are only protected for about 1 hour and 40 minutes. Sunscreens can also get rubbed off the skin, which limits the protection level.

No. Apply it every two hours and especially after sweating, swimming and towelling. That's how you get the highest level of sun protection. However, it doesn't mean you can stay out in the sun longer!

Sunscreen should be applied to the skin's surface at 2 mg per cm2 so that it can provide optimal and complete sun protection. A good rule of thumb is: 3 grams of creme for the face (corresponds to about a teaspoon) and 30 grams for the body (a generous two tablespoons). Not applying a sufficient layer of the product seriously reduces the sun protection factor.

Do not forget to apply sunscreen to the tips of your ears, your eyelids and the bridge of your nose because these areas get a lot of sun exposure. The neckline, forehead as well as the tops of your feet are also often neglected, as well as areas bordering your clothing, for example, under the straps of your swim suit. Your lips are the most sensitive because they are unable to build up their own protection. Use creme or gloss with an extra high sun protection factor.)

Your skin can indicate sun damage even after just a few minutes. That's why it's recommended to apply a creme or gel before heading out into the sun. The new generation of sunscreens contains specific ingredients therefore they are immediately effective.

This depends primarily on the intensity of the radiation at the location and on your sensitivity to the sun. At the beginning of a beach vacation, we recommend a higher sun protection factor; this also applies to the mountains because the intensity of the UV radiation increases with the elevation above sea level by about 10% per 1,000 meters. Also, remember sand and snow strongly reflects the sun.

The sun protection factor extends the time it takes for the skin to turn red by a factor of X. A person who burns after 10 minutes of sun exposure without sunscreen would not get sunburn for 100 minutes using a sunscreen with a sun protection factor of 10. However, even before visible skin damage or sunburn can occur, it's the best not to stay out in the sun any more than up to 60% of this time.

We include this storage instruction to guarantee a high-quality product throughout its shelf life. At high temperatures, the product may separate. We subject all of our products to comprehensive storage tests under changing temperatures (up to 40°C) to determine how the product reacts. Short-term storage at these temperatures is possible; however, they should not be stored at these temperatures for long periods. Avoid placing products in direct sunlight (for example, at a swimming pool, at the beach or in a parked car on a hot day).

Most cosmetic ingredients are absorbed by the outermost cell layers of the skin, and as a rule, do not enter into the body's bloodstream (only a few ingredients remain to some extent on the skin). Product ingredients applied to injured skin (for example "scratches" or atopic eczema) can enter into the bloodstream in the smallest of amounts by means of the capillaries. Clinical studies prove excellent compatibility of Eucerin® products on both sensitive and diseased skin.

Although we do not have a product range designed specifically for babies and small children, some products within various ranges are suitable for them.

In the Eucerin® Dry Skin product line, Lipid Shower Oil is ideal for babies and small children. 12% Omega Lotion and 12% Omega Cream are perfect for babies and small children. For children 3 years old and over, we recommend Dry Skin Relief Hand Cream with 5% Urea as well as 20% Omega Ointment.

As a manufacturer of medicinal skincare products, Beiersdorf places high demands on its products. Prior to market launch, all Eucerin® products are evaluated for safety and skin compatibility with regard to the ingredients. The ingredients selected are of high quality and are permitted for cosmetic products in the concentrations used. They have also been evaluated as safe for use in skincare products. It goes without saying that during these evaluations, it is also taken into account that some of the users of our products could also be pregnant or nursing. Eucerin® products are therefore evaluated as safe under the conventional application conditions, including pregnancy and while nursing.

If repeated application to the skin of the flexure of the elbow does not lead to redness, swelling or itching the product can be assumed as compatible with your skin.

Simply put, it won't clog pores. The term "comedogeneity" refers to the development of blackheads (comedones) caused by skincare creams or their ingredients. Increased sebum production and the simultaneous clogging of the sebaceous glands (follicles) cause the formation of comedones. The closed sebaceous glands are subsequently populated by acne bacteria that form porphyrin as a metabolic product. Exposed to a special light this metabolic product produces a measurable fluorescence. This method is used to determine the non-comedogenic effect of the Eucerin face care products.

Surfactants are active cleansing agents, also called active surface or active interface substances. They are organic compounds that influence the molecular adhesion on the contact surfaces of various materials (e.g. skin and dirt particles) by reducing the surface tension to ease the removal of dirt particles, for example.

Eucerin® cleansing products contain mild surfactants that demonstrate excellent skin compatibility, documented in comprehensive clinical studies.