best over the counter cream for Eczema?

[ashlansmom]

My 2 year old suffers from eczema and according to her allergist, eczema is typically related to other present allergies. My daughter is allergic to egg. In any case, we have loved the "Mustela" brand "Stelatopia body wash" and "Stelatopia Eczema lotion" - just as a daily wash and moisturizer it has always been what has worked. We also have tried Aveeno, Eucerin, Triple Cream Lotion, etc.... and this is only what works. I don't know if I "buy" the yogurt thing, because my daughter eats yogurt about 2x a day - every day, and it has never made a difference in her skin issues.

However, you should definitely also change your washing products to sensitive skin wash- like a Dreft or Tide Free or something of the sort. This includes the child's clothes, sheets, towels... etc.

Just thought I would share our experience and the advice from our allergist. Also, the Mustela can be found here at Babies R Us, but you can locate it online I'm sure. It's the "stelatopia" product which is specially for eczema. Just another thing our allergist stressed was that children with eczema should bathe daily, not too hot water, PAT dry and immediately slather in a good lotion. We also have a flare up ointment - triamcinolone? ointment- which is a prescription that we have to use pretty regularly on bad spots. Good luck! Believe me, I feel your pain, eczema stinks!

 

[allyphoe]

We use Eucerin at the moment, applied while still damp out of the shower. We've also got some prescription cortisone cream leftover from a really bad flare, but I try not to use that if I can help it.

DD's eczema was much worse as a baby until we figured out she was allergic to dairy. So a PP's yogurt suggestion would not have worked for her! With any atopy, it's sort of trial and error more than "this one thing works for everyone." She's outgrown the dairy allergy, and now mostly has "really dry skin that gets scabby if you go too long without moisturizing" rather than the cracking / bleeding that some people have.

 

[2bearsmom]

My ds is 3 and has eczema. He is also allergic to peanuts, tree nuts and eggs. It really only flares up when he eats any baked goods, or waffles/pancakes, made with eggs. I've become very strict with not allowing him cookies, cakes or anything with eggs. I have found a powdered egg replacement and I now use for cookies and pancakes.

He has Rx strength ointment but I really don't want to use that unless it is the very last resort. I keep his bath's short and use Burt's Bee's shampoo/body wash (I also have Dr Bronner's baby/mild formula to start after the Burt's Bees is gone) and California Baby lotion after. I actually use lotion twice a day and I've just started using coconut oil too. The vitamin A and E in his multi vitamin and the fish oil supplement really help him out too.

 

[englishteacha]

My mother has horrible, horrible allergies that manifest in a skin reaction. She is able to keep them under control by using unscented, dye free products, and she is very careful what she eats. She can't have dyes or preservatives in her food, either. It took years before the doctors figured out that her skin problems were related to food and products she used on her skin. Hope you find a solution!

 

[3boymthr]

My mom (66) has had it all her life. For her it NEVER heals. Horrible. She is allergic to primarily wool and potato starch but her skin is irritated by almost any fabric fiber. She has also found that something in Snuggle fabric softener makes her eczema much worse. To help the itch she uses Eucerin, with Vitamin E caplets that she breaks open and spreads on the skin. For my son who has sub dermal eczema we use oatmeal baths when he gets itchy - you can buy it at almost any drug store, walmart or target.

 

[WendyisDarling]

Lots of information already given. I developed eczema a bit more than 20 years ago while I was in college.

Use a humidifier, at least where he sleeps. One night without mine and I am in terrible shape.

Aveeno bath and shower OIL. It is sometimes hard to find.

Stress is a known cause for flare ups.

Many lotions have been mentioned that are good. Just use it very often.

Use steroid creams sparingly. After years of use, my skin is very thin.

Best of luck. It is a very difficult condition to live with.

 

[stczt]

DD 10 has eczema terribly I have started using dead sea scrub and lotion and it cleared her up better than anything else.

 

[janni518]

My SILs have had some success with OTC Aquaphor and RX Mimyx.

 

[left210]

My daughter is 5 and has severe eczema. She often bleeds from it and was practically living on steroid creams and oral steroids. We've swapped dermatologists several times and the last one told us to go to Walgreens or CVS and get CeraVe Moisturizing Cream in the 16oz tub. No other OTC creams have ever helped so I was skeptical since its 15.00 a tub. This stuff is AMAZING!!!!!!!!! She has NEVER felt smooth a day in her life and has NEVER been "clear". Within two days of using this (we apply 3 times a day) she is as smooth as can be and only has flareups a few times a month now instead of daily. We haven't had to use her steroid creams/oral's for two months now and I'm thrilled!!!! It also doesnt burn like a lot of creams do on eczema. I can't say enough good stuff about CeraVe Cream!

I checked into the Cerave cream yesterday at Walgreens. It is in a tub like Cetaphil lotion and the Cetaphil made my son much worse. I know everyone says it is so gentle but his eczema was much worse after using it twice. So do you know is the Cerave different than Cetaphil? I have spent so much money on products that either dont work or make it worse. How long do you guys give it to see if it is helping?

 

[bhoffman]

I went and bought the Cerave at Walgreens as well. We put it on twice last night and once this morning. He loved it last night and this morning said it was burning, but that was on the part where it had been bleeding from so much scratching. Will keep up with it for a few days, have to give it a chance! I looked for the Aveeno for excema and the pharmacist said they don't make one. Didn't feel like arguing that someone had said they bought it so we decided to try the Cerave. Hope it works. His skin did seem softer this morning. We'll see.....


I just checked on drugstore dot com and it is on sale (the cerave cream) for $11.25 rather than $15 at Walgreens. If you order $50 you get free shipping too!

 

[janni518]

Ask your doctor, but my son has eczema and he is 21. The doctor told him to use Head and Shoulders. Step into the shower, put some on the area, let sit for a few and shower off. My son also uses Nizoral Dandruff shampoo around his nose. Works like a charm. He does this only when the eczema is making him crazy. Swears it works great.

Aquaphore in between.

Interesting. That's usually a remedy for fungal infections, is eczema a fungus? FYI generic dandruff shampoo works just as well as head and shoulders on my nephew who is 25 and prone to fungal infections.

 

[left210]

I went and bought the Cerave at Walgreens as well. We put it on twice last night and once this morning. He loved it last night and this morning said it was burning, but that was on the part where it had been bleeding from so much scratching. Will keep up with it for a few days, have to give it a chance! I looked for the Aveeno for excema and the pharmacist said they don't make one. Didn't feel like arguing that someone had said they bought it so we decided to try the Cerave. Hope it works. His skin did seem softer this morning. We'll see.....


I just checked on drugstore dot com and it is on sale (the cerave cream) for $11.25 rather than $15 at Walgreens. If you order $50 you get free shipping too!

They do make Aveeno for eczema. It is in with the baby stuff. It is called Aveeno Baby and in the print below it says for dry skin and eczema.

 

[shelly3girls]

My eczema gets so bad that it cracks and bleeds. I have had great success with Gold Bond medicated lotion. A friend recommended it last year and it was like instant relief. It also does not feel as greasy as some of the other lotions.

 

[dis-happy]

They do make Aveeno for eczema. It is in with the baby stuff. It is called Aveeno Baby and in the print below it says for dry skin and eczema.

No, there are (were) two different Aveeno for Eczema. One is the baby version, which didn't work well for my baby. The other my dermatologist recommended, which I bought 2 tubes of, and it is gold!!! However, when I was running out of it last week I couldn't find it anyplace. Finally called Aveeno and they said they still make it, but under a different name, "eczema" is no longer in the title. They discontinued the old one as of last March. I wrote down the name of the new one but can't find it this instant, but you can call Aveeno and they'll tell you.

 

[DisBride2007]

But the best 'remedy' for eczema is yogurt (even gogurt) with probiotics.
It has basically eliminated my daughter's eczema and pretty much has cured IBS for me.

DH has IBS and it has been really bad for him lately. Upon reading this suggestion I bought him this yogurt over the weekend. He has had it only twice so far and it has already made a difference for him! So thanks again!

 

[Jumba17]

Vaseline. Like a PP said, you want to coat the eczema and keep the moisture in. Use hydrocortisone creams sparingly. This is per my DS' dermatologist. We have tried all of these creams and lotions that everyone has posted, and like many have also said, some of them cause more of a reaction because of all of the fragrance/chemicals in them.

I feel for anyone that suffers with this - it is so frustrating. My DS had a patch on his leg last winter that I swear was bleeding anytime he touched it all winter long.

 

[kwilliamsrn]

Can anyone share their opinions on the best over the counter cream for Eczema? My 8yr old son suffers from it and we have tried Eucerin, Cetaphil, Aveeno, Cortaid....anyone have opinions on what works best. We also have a prescription cream for flareups....but what do you think works best? He especially suffers on his right hand and elbow...thanks!

eneryone has great posts, all great suggestions DD turning 4 has it really bad and to date we have almost every otc and RX cream for it including a special compound had to hunt down a pharmacy to do that.

It has gotten to the point where the poor girl is bleeding on her hands and ankles the back of her knees have lost pigment from to much cortisone.

two weeks ago saw the pedi and he said aquaphor, zinc same old stuff.
so that night back out to cvs I went on a mission.
been mixing everynight and morning, 40%zinc(diaper rash cream), aquaphor, vanacream lotion into a paste and loading her up. she even helps.

Finally starting to clear up never thought I would see the day, we at one time were hoping that going to WDW would help warm air and hmidity. Have even got phone calls from school.

 

[Sam's_Mom]

We also use CeraVe. My 5 yr old had a patch on the back of his knee for months and after using this for less than a week it disappeared. He baths very infrequently and uses this lotion while still wet. We buy the pump bottle because it is easier to apply. Our local drugstore orders it for us.

 

[gaelic grace]

My son has patches of excema mainly on his extremities. I didn't want to use steroids and did alot of research on other options. Lots of things work for lots of people but it seems like nothing works for everyone. Pine tar soap has worked wonders for us. I get it at our health food store. It doesn't smell good but it does dissapate after use. It's been around for over a hundred years. I can't remember the name and I don't have a bar still in the box. It's a green and black box and the soap is a deep green. A small bar is about 2.50 and the larger bar about 4.00. It took several weeks of consistent use to see a difference but we slowly saw change. Now you can't see it but you can feel scales in a few places. I think by spring it will be completely gone.

 

[bobbieh76]

my son HAD horrible eczema... we used everything eucerin being the best lotion.... what completely got rid of it was ripping up all the carpet in our house and installing laminate flooring... his eczema was a result of a severe allergy to dust mites. He has been eczema free for nearly 3 years and it only took 1 month after the carpet was gone for all traces of eczema to be gone! If you havent done it yet find a good allergist and do testing!!!!!