Most adults worry about how their environment affects their skin, but few are doing much about it, according to new CeraVe research unveiled October 2 at the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (EADV) Congress in Vienna.
The brand surveyed 6,000 adults in the U.K., France, Germany, Italy and Spain about how they understand the skin barrier and respond to everyday environmental stress.
Ninety percent of respondents said they were concerned about at least one environmental factor affecting their skin, and 81 percent said protection beyond UV exposure is important. Only 22 percent reported using products designed to support the skin barrier.
Respondents also reported changes in their skin and habits:
- 47 percent said their skin is more sensitive than it was five years ago.
- 50 percent reported dryness they linked to their environment or changing weather.
- 10 percent said they take extra skin-care steps when pollution levels are high.
The findings also suggest that complicated beauty routines don’t necessarily stick. Fifty-five percent of respondents said skin care has to be simple or they won’t follow it.
“People may experience dryness, tightness or sensitivity without realizing these can be linked to the skin barrier,” says board-certified dermatologist Andrew Park, MD. “While awareness matters, clear and trusted guidance is the most important factor.”
“The research shows that people are paying closer attention to their skin, but greater awareness also brings a greater need for clarity and trust,” says Gene Colon, CeraVe’s global senior vice president of medical relations and communications. “As the conversation around skin becomes increasingly complex, we want to give people something simple: credible science, effective skin care and the confidence to make informed choices for their skin.”
CeraVe used its EADV presence to highlight how it develops products. The company says it assesses formulas for safety, efficacy and tolerability with input from scientific and medical experts, and that its safety, claims and regulatory teams validate product claims. CeraVe products contain three ceramides that are identical to those found naturally in skin, and the brand says more than 80,000 dermatologists worldwide recommend it.
