what is the most effective way to use hydrocortizone cream?

[evester]

with dd 1 was told to put on emolient first. now dd2 (4months) has eczema prob worse than dd1, been using diprobase and HC 1% but dont see any improvement. so should i be putting HC on without emolient first? also... anyone notice a difference in their DC s skin when cutting out dairy/egg from own diet if breast feeding? (DD1 has dairy and egg allergy)

I would think the emolient would stop the Hc getting through. I would hold off from using the emolient while the HC does its work then start the emolient as a preventative afterwards.

I have suffered from excema for the past 33 yrs, the most effective way of using HC cream is to use the emollient 30 mins before applying the cream as this allows the skin to soften and rehydrate thus allowing the HC to be absorbed better. It maybe that you need a different emolient as it really is a case of trial and error to find the right combination.

I have been working in a children's dermatology clinic for the past three years. We always advise the opposite to hennipenni's advice (though skin professionals seem to be split 50/50!) and say to apply the steroid cream/ointment first, waiting AT LEAST 20 minutes before applying the emollient cream or lotion afterwards. Also our dermatology guy only really prescribes HC for faces - tends to prescribe something called EUMOVATE which is about 2 1/2 times stronger (but still a relatively mild steroid so don't worry) and therefore more effective if used well. Good luck!