Eczema - Aveeno cream

[MichelleM]

Having read several recommendations from MN I have bought Aveeno cream today for my 2 year old DS who has ezcema all over his legs, arms, and neck. Just really hoping for some encouragement that this will improve things as feel so sorry for little DS and desperate to find something to improve things for him. For those who found Aveeno cream useful - how quickly did it improve things, and to what extent(i.e did it just keep it calmed down or does it clear it away?)

I am using Dermol or Oilatum in bath, Cetraben emollient instead of soap, Epaderm as moisturising emollient several times a day, and hydrocortisone for when it is really bad. Have also recently started using Elidel cream as a substitute for the hydorcortisone.

Any advice as to what else I might try would be really appreciated.

aveeno startedto work in a couple of days but my dd,s eczema is moderate to severe so dont know if your ds will be the same. Did u know u can get aveeno on prescription? u maight have to push for it but it is available

Thanks Jenk1 - hadnt realised I could get it on prescription. I think DS eczema is moderate to severe too. It only really got from the start of the summer. Am looking forward to autumn/winter in the hope that the cooler weather will be kinder to him.

I started using aveeno cream on my ds's ezcema 2 weeks ago and found that it cleared his skin in 4 days. Had to go back to his prescribed cream a couple of days ago as forgot the aveeno and his skin went back to being really dry and he had a fresh outbreak.

Was skeptical about the aveeno bath oil as it has a strong smell and ds's skin normally reacts badly to perfume, but thought the cream had such a positive impact that it'd be worth a try.

His skin is now lovely and smooth and baby soft for the 1st time ever, and I'm only moisurising him once a day. I thoroughly reccomend it (I think I shld also be charging Johnson and johnson commision for the rave review!)

michelle I found oilatum really drying in the bath. haven't tried dermol but I think diprobath is the best of the ones I have tried.
The aveeno should be replacing the epaderm as the moisturising emollient. Keep with the hydrocort/elidel as directed until it has really cleared up and then go onto bath emollient and aveeno to maintain the skin. but don't use the hydrocort/elidel until it is just looking a bit better and then stop or it will come back.does that make sense?!

Haven't used bath oil but cream by far the best we've used

Thank you all for your replies, it has given me the encouraging boost I really needed
Have already seen slight improvement in just 24 hours so really hopeful. Will try the bath oil as well now. Princesspeahead thanks for the advice about the using the hydorcortisone - have probably been overcautious in using it and stopping too soon.

Hi i've found aveeno wonderful for years. You do have to force some Gp's to look it up in their books and prescribe it to you .

i would recommend smothering aveeno all over several times a day, and whenever you see him itching. ( i ask my doc for about 4 tubes at a time as they aren't that big)

As much as i hate steroids (has caused bad vitiligo on my skin) when my excema gets what i call out of control (painful and bleeding) i use steroids morning and night for 2 or 3 days, then go ott on the aveeno and i find this brings it back into control. Sometimes it doesn't actually go totally but it is comfortable and i've just learnt to live with it.

The best advice a dermatologist gave me, was just apply every time i felt and itch because a) it stops me itching and b) it keeps my skin greasy enough that if i do itch it won't actually break the skin and cause infections.
Yes this can mean i apply aveeno on bad areas every 15mins a bad day! but that is soooo worth it as it is the only way i keep it under control.

HTH!

ps if anyone you know is going to the states you get a tube about 3x the size for about 2/3 the price - get them to stock up a bit for you and bring it back....

oh michelle poor you. excema is terrible isn?t it.
I found aveeno worked very well on ds1?s excema within a day or so. H/ever it did nothign for dd (who had/has it much worse).
agree, get it on prescrip. Also we use oilatum fragrance free in the bath, again on prescrip, endlessly repeated as if we stop using it, the excema comes back.
ds1?s stopped suddenly when he was 2 (hurrah!). ds2 has never had it (double hurrah!) But dd at 4 still has a flare-up now and then.
top tip....when we went on hol encouraged her into the sea as much as poss (she was very good adn brave) and it did really clear up, salt water you see. Did wonder whether it was worth trying salt baths but ds2 has a tendency to drink the bathwater so maybe not.

Thanks again for your replies. After nearly 4 days of using Aveeno there is a definite improvement in DS skin - it is really soft and smooth, something it hasnt been for so so long. Thank you to all those who recommended Aveeno!
He still is covered in the patches all over his body though - does Aveeno eventually clear this totally or do you think I need to use the hydrocortisone to do this? Will try to get him in the salt water too Clary.

Hello

I changed to aveeno lotion as well as 1 capsule per day of evening primrose oil for my 3 year old (just turned) the diffence is fantastic. Evening primrose oil is given orally and promotes cell regrowth. I have posted a chat about my daughter please read it. it may well be worth your while trying this and it might stop you having to use hydrocotozone.