Every home, car, office and backpack should have a first aid kit handy with basic medical supplies in the event of an emergency. Shielding Lotions, a new technology in skin care treatment, are the latest recommendation for inclusion in the kit.

Shielding Lotions bond with the skin cells to provide a protective barrier that keeps harmful irritants from penetrating the skin’s surface, and keeps in the moisture and oils often lost due to that exposure. A shielding lotion is an excellent companion to other first aid treatments by aiding the skin’s own natural healing abilities.

Uses for Shielding lotions in a first aid kit can include the prevention or minimization of contamination by everyday chemicals and irritants. Testimonials show they are also excellent in the treatment of common skin conditions such as psoriasis, eczema, and chapped dry cracked skin.

"Skin that is afflicted with such conditions as psoriasis, eczema, or even a severe dry skin condition can result in breaks or cracks in the skin that expose the vulnerable sub-layers to infections and pollutants," says Dr. Peter Helton, a Southern California-based dermatologist. "We have to treat these conditions with prescription medications as well as a lotion to help heal the dry skin."

"The protective and healing properties of a shielding lotion are far and away superior to conventional lotions as they not only aid the skin’s own natural healing properties, but also provide a protective buffer," he says. "With a shielding lotion the skin heals much faster, and the patient has to use less prescription medication."

According to the Boy Scouts of America, every first aid kit should be small and waterproof and have the following basic items in addition to the shielding lotion for your dry skin care treatment:

Bar of soap 2-inch roller bandage 1-inch roller bandage 1-inch adhesive 3-by-3-inch sterile pads Triangular bandage Assorted gauze pads Adhesive strips Clinical oral thermometer Scissors Tweezers Sunburn lotion

Lip salve Poison-ivy lotion Small flashlight (with extra batteries and bulb) Absorbent cotton Water purification tablets (iodine) Safety pins Needles Paper cups Foot powder Instant ice packs Shielding Lotion

Because of the possibility of exposure to communicable diseases, first-aid kits should include latex or vinyl gloves, plastic goggles or other eye protection, and antiseptic to be used when giving first aid to bleeding victims, as protection against possible exposure. And since so many people experience sensitivity to the chemicals in latex and plastic products, first applying a shielding lotion to protect your skin makes good sense.