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Original poster

Best otc cream for what's possibly eczema?

21 replies

Thurlow · 14/02/2014 13:11

2yo has a red rash on her cheeks with what look like the occasional teenage acne spots in it. For ages we thought it was just red teething cheeks, but it's starting to feel rough and a quick visit to Dr Google suggests its possibly more eczema-y, which I didn't think of at all because she hasn't had any skin problems before.

Neither sudacrem or E45 are making much of a dent. Haven't had a chance to see a pharmacist yet, and don't want to make a GP appointment unless we have to (and that will take a few weeks for non-emergency appts anyway). Does anyone have any good suggestions for what might help in the meantime?

OP posts:
EBee57 · 14/02/2014 13:22

Dc dh and I have all found Aveeno Cream effective and is worth a try. It's very gentle and you only need a tiny bit - it feels softer and less greasy than sudacrem or E45. It would be best to check with a Pharmacist first. HPH

KaFayOLay · 14/02/2014 19:48

Eucerin is otc but I get it on prescription as it is v expensive. Dermatologist recommended it for what sounds an identical rash on my dd.
When she has a flare up, she has protopic. Not had to use it yet as Eucerin seems to have done the trick.

Original poster
Thurlow · 14/02/2014 20:44

Thanks both! I'll see how much Eucerin is, I do get dry skin myself so it wouldn't go to waste.

KaFay, can I ask what the dermatologist said about your DD's rash? I'm a bit loathe to go to the GP at the moment.

OP posts:
KaFayOLay · 15/02/2014 18:41

GP treated it for 4 months with different creams as ringworm before referring us.

Dermatologist decided as it hadn't got better after such a big hit of strong steroids he was going to treat it as excema whilst waiting for skin scrape to come back.
The thing he stressed most was to keep it moist, hence the Eucerin cream. Hers was about the size of a 50p but had what looked like whiteheads in it periodically.
I have never seen excema like it but he said it was typical.

The Eucerin is £9.50 for a small pot.

grumpalumpgrumped · 15/02/2014 21:11

Aveeno here too.

Chicksy · 15/02/2014 21:13

Pure potions skin salvation. I suffered terribly from eczema until I discovered this. Very natural product so great for kids. Loads of before and after pictures on their website.

PogoBob · 15/02/2014 21:19

lush dream cream made a real difference for DS - needed steroids when it get particularly bad though

breatheslowly · 15/02/2014 21:28

Cetamacrogol is quite a good emollient.

StuckOnARollercoaster · 15/02/2014 21:30

God I have so many different creams and I think all are OTC but I get them on prescription as I need so much!
The 'best' one for me is epaderm ointment, there is also a lighter cream when she has a flare up. Next best is doublebase gel - this might be a good one as its very light and nice to use and put on the face.
Tips from the gp and eczema nurse though are that it's very much an 'individual' disease and the reasons it flares/occurs are very different and similarly which cream might work so you just have to try different ones until you find a cream or regime that works for your circumstances...

Ellefabulosa · 15/02/2014 21:34

Aveeno lotion v good

MissRatty · 16/02/2014 15:35

Not E45 or any aqueous BP cream...they thin the skin and actually make it worse. Plus avoid anything with SLS in it, as this aggravates the condition. If you do a google search there is lots of medical evidence to back this up.

Good luck!

Beccawoo · 16/02/2014 19:44

Aveeno is good, and you could ask for it on prescription at a later date if you find it works and you need it regularly, I've done that. My DS is also prescribed hydrocortizone for when his eczema gets v bad as your dds sounds. A pharmacist won't sell it to you for a little one though, and they'll also tell you not to put it on the face, even though my dr has said I can on dss cheeks when it flares up. Best to see a dr for that one ;0)

Original poster
Thurlow · 16/02/2014 22:03

Thanks everyone. I think I'll get some Aveeno and then make an appointment, that'll probably be in a few weeks anyway! I did see something in the shop called kids weather balm, I was wondering if that might help as I suspect the cold weather is exacerbating it?

OP posts:
Deb2202 · 16/02/2014 22:05

Another vote for epiderm, the ointment is in a tub and thick like Vaseline really helps, then a lighter cream for when not as bad.

I spoke to the health visitor at a weigh in clinic once and she prescribed a few different ones to try. Overall epiderm and diprobase are the ones we thought were good so that might be an idea, we worked our way through a few different ones.

I found when on the face only a few days of hydrocortisone sorted it, all the emollients in the world wouldn't shift it.

I then found out ds1 was allergic to milk and that was flaring up his skin.

Deb2202 · 16/02/2014 22:08

Sorry just read the op again, not sure if the ones I've suggested are available over the counter I'd of thought so but like I say health visitors can give you some if that's easier than the gp!

Debs75 · 16/02/2014 22:16

If you are going to the chemists why not ask the pharmacist for something off the minor ailments scheme? It will be free and they can then suggest other things.

For the record don't go with E45, it is torture on my eczema. At the moment I am using hemp hand protector from body shop for unbroken skin, it is great for me but then I have been through almost all the above suggestions and I can't tolerate them apart from Vaseline which would be my suggestion

SingMoreWhenYoureWinning · 16/02/2014 23:19

I wouldn't say there is a 'best' cream for it tbh. With ds2, it was trial and error.

The thicker, Vaseline like creams seemed to work best. Anything too oily or lotion-like made him scream in pain, even the prescription ones.

We tried so many though, and sometimes one would work for weeks/months, then just seem to stop having an effect or even be making it worse.

If you suspect it's eczema, i'd not bother with otc and just go straight to gp for some prescription cream.

KaFayOLay · 17/02/2014 08:36

I have dug out my factsheet given to me by the dermatologist. He recommended me to start with the light preparations and then move into the other categories if the light wasn't making any difference.
This is the list of creams in the light category:
Aveeno
Cetaphil
Dermal 500 (with anti-microbials)
E45
Eucerin Lotion (3% and 10% urea)
Oilatum
QV
Vaseline Dermacare Lotion

If you have no joy, drop me a PM and I'll give you a list of the medium preparations.
It is a list produced by www.eczema.org but you need to be a HCP to have access to this list.

Original poster
Thurlow · 17/02/2014 10:21

That's great, KayFay, thanks so much for digging that out. I wasn't able to take DD to the chemist this weekend and sod's law she's in childcare all week this week so again we don't have a chance, but I'm going to try the pharmacist near work and see if they'll recommend something without seeing her. I'll take that list with me though and probably buy something off that!

E45 is making a slight improvement but nothing drastic. I feel a bit bad worrying about it as it's not bothering her at all, she doesn't scratch it, so it feels like it's more of a visual issue Blush

OP posts:
tacal · 17/02/2014 22:08

another vote for epaderm, and no hats or scarf's around the face to irritate the skin. Good luck.

Knackeredmum13 · 17/02/2014 22:25

Our dermatologist told us that Dermol stings. A great thing to use is 50:50, it's very greasy but it works.

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