Soothing Itching Skin at Night
Children find it so hard to understand the importance of not scratching their eczema, especially at night-time. Eczema pyjamas and gloves can create a barrier between the fingernails and skin, but as they come in seperates, they can be easily removed by a a determined child who wants to scratch! This damage from uncontrolled scratching can make an eczema flare much worse.
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SkinAkin's award winning full Onesies have fully enclosed hands and feet and no entry point for little fingernails. This offers the maximum protection from the damage done by scratching.
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Skinakin eczema relief suits, made from highly durable, premium and certified organic cotton, help reduce itching at night and increase sleep quality. The suit protects skin from external triggers, keeping ointments and medications contained on skin for longer lasting hydration.
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Improving Sleep Quality
Whilst the itch remains a challenge, the major damage done to skin by unbearable scratching can be minimised by creating a barrier and defending the skin. This can reduce sleep disturbances and improve quality of sleep and overall wellbeing for child and parent.
Research shows that sleep is disturbed in 60% of children with eczema regardless of the severity, however is more typical in moderate to severe eczema cases. Length and quality of sleep is important for everyone, and as such eczema itching and sleep disturbances, impact children and their parents.
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Researchers have found that people with eczema itching have poorer sleep quality and more sleep disturbances. Scratching can mean frequent waking, and difficulty staying asleep or falling into a deep sleep. This means that people with eczema may not fully benefit from the restorative, R.E.M. stage of sleep.
A study published in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology, found that sleep disruption caused by eczema itching can have a knock-on effect into the day, causing low energy, low mood, and problems with concentration and memory.
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Minimising triggers
Skinakin Onesies are made from GOTS Certified Organic Cotton, and latex, dye free. This choice further reduces the potential triggers from fabric. To optimise comfort, the range has also been carefully designed with external seams to avoid irritation and reduce further aggravation to skin.
Dermatologists refer to something that causes or aggravates eczema as a “trigger.” Research shows that clothing and other substances can trigger eczema flares, as well as other products that you use on your body or in your home, like soaps, laundry detergents, perfumes etc. Cotton is recommended for eczema however GOTS Certified Organic Cotton is the premium choice cotton for eczema. GOTS Certified Cotton has no pesticide residues, or chemical finishes, reducing the potential for triggering already sensitive skin.
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Certified Organic Cotton for Eczema
According to the National Eczema Society many people with eczema find that wool and synthetic materials, such as polyester and nylon, cause overheating, sweating and irritation, which can set off itching and all in all is not a good product for eczema itch relief. Rough seams, fibres, fastenings and threads can also cause problems for sensitive skin.
With support from Innovate UK, we worked with leading materials and design experts to source the optimum fabric for eczema prone skin. The Onesie is made from skin friendly, lightweight, natural fibres (Organic Cotton). Cotton is recommended by the National Eczema Society and the NHS as a skin kind fabric. GOTS Certified organic cotton is even better as it has no pesticide residues, or chemical finishes. It is also grown sustainably and ethically, so it is kinder to the environment, skin, and the workers who produce it. As part of the development process, SkinAkin also conducted wash trials to ensure the longevity of the garments. The suit can be washed and dried in a normally (great for laundry) and the material has great recovery to retain its shape and fit. The Onesies also keep creams and ointments contained within the suit, reducing transfer onto bedding, cutting down on laundry time, saving energy washing bed sheets.
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Backed By Research
in 2021, SkinAkin was awarded support from the U.K.'s leading Innovation Agency, Innovate UK, to accelerate product development on the Onesie Project. This investment enabled in-depth design and materials research, testing, and prototyping of the range. Scientific methods (build, measure, learn) have been adopted at every step of development.
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As well as objective research and analysis, SkinAkin have involved the people that need this product range the most, children with eczema and their parents. Surveys, in-depth interviews, wearer trials, and follow ups with children, took place over a 4 month period, with families who trialled the suit. The analysis showed that 90% of parents agreed that the Onesie helped defend the skin from scratching and improve sleep [1]. As a result of this highly positive outcome, SkinAkin has went on to engage in externally led trials within the clinical setting, in order to gather more in-depth data on the impact over time. SkinAkin has sought advice from Dermatologists throughout the development of this range from concept to product, following National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE) Guidelines for the treatment of Eczema. In 2022, SkinAkin was awarded a Silver Innovation Award from the Department for the Economy, Northern Ireland, in further recognition of the Onesie Project.
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