OTC products to help save your skin

Key Points

Summer brings picnics, hikes, and trips to the water, along with sunburn, bug bites, and dry, itchy skin. For all that exposed skin, manufacturers offer several new skin-care aids.

Coppertone Sensitive Skin (SPF 50) with zinc oxide is made for those with sensitive skin, including rosacea. The product is free of fragrances, oils, dyes, and alcohols. Ultra-sweatproof Coppertone Sport with Replenishing Antioxidants helps fortify the skin's natural antioxidant defenses. It's available in lotions (SPF 30, 50, and 80) and in continuous sprays (SPF 30, 50, and 70+). Coppertone Kids with Protective Vitamins blends antioxidant vitamins to support the natural defenses in children's skin. It is available in lotion (SPF 70+) and continuous sprays (SPF 50 and 70+). Coppertone Kids Pure & Simple Sunscreen's tear-free and fragrance-free lotion (SPF 50) won't sting or irritate eyes.

Chattem's new Cortizone 10 Hydratensive Anti-Itch Lotions are formulated to quickly relieve the most common types of itch and provide long-lasting moisturizing. Each hypo-allergenic formula (Soothing Formula and Healing Formula) contains hydrocortisone; skin moisturizers; vitamins A, C, and E; and botanicals. Chattem's Cortizone 10 Intensive Healing Lotion has 7 moisturizers, 3 skin-nurturing vitamins, botanicals, and the maximum nonprescription level of hydrocortisone to relieve eczema's itching, discomfort, and rashes. The citrus-scented ultralight version of Chattem's Gold Bond Ultimate Hand Sanitizer Sheer Moisture launched in July. The thicker unscented version delivers intense moisture therapy; the new sheer version is lighter and absorbs quickly. The new formula kills 99.9% of germs and bacteria in 15 seconds, then uses 7 hydrating moisturizers to help restore the skin's lipid barrier.

The salicylic acid in Burt's Bees Natural Solutions Clarifying Toner removes makeup traces, cleanses, and reduces acne and prevents breakouts; its goldenseal and hops soothe and calm irritated skin; and its witch hazel has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant healing benefits.

Tender Corp.'s Gramp Lyford's Country Salve for dry, cracked skin is a light, greaseless salve containing urea and allantoin to rehydrate, restore, and moisturize the skin and promote healing.

Health Enterprises' Acu-LifePoison Ivy Soap washes away poison ivy, oak, and sumac itch anywhere on the body.

Perfecta Products' Zim's Creamy Daytime Formula Herbal Skin Cream contains arnica, aloe vera, and myrcia oil for treating dry, cracked skin.

Tec Labs' newly packaged Staphaseptic First Aid/Pain Relieving Gel is applied to minor cuts, scrapes, and burns to help prevent infections caused by bacteria such as MRSA, Staphylococcus, Streptococcus, and other germs.

Dana K. Cassell, a frequent contributor to Drug Topics, lives in North Stratford, N.H.