Aveeno or Aqueous?

[WorriedAndCrazy]

Apologies if this is in the wrong section I wasn't quite sure where to post it.

I've had a horrible rash now for about 3/4 weeks and today finally got told that it its dermatitis. I have canesten with hydrocortisone. The doctor advised me to use this twice a day and to use aqueous as often as possible to keep the skin moisturised. He advised that the cream would make my skin feel like it would burn for about 10 minutes but would settle down.

I've just tried it out and sure enough it did burn but has settled down now but after reading online I see that aqueous cream is not recommended as a moisturiser for this condition. Some more googling showed that a lot of people highly recommend Aveeno cream so I called up the local chemist to see if they had any in stock before I went round and she also advised me that the best thing for it is aqueous.

So do I go along with what the doctor and pharmacist say? Does anyone have any experience of these products and can advise me on what is best to use?

Brilliant will pick some of that up as well. I've read that about the oats and tights I'll try that too. I absolutely LOVE bubble baths I look forward to having one every night. I have a very very bubble bath. I go through a bottle in about 5 days . So tonight I will be having a plain bath which I'm not looking forward to.

We're big fans of Aveeno here because it sorted out DD's eczema when she was small - but don't buy their expensive sachets of stuff for the bath, the 'oats in a sock' method is basically the same thing. Give the sock a really good squeeze and swish about, the bathwater will go white and cloudy from the oaty goodness. Then you can use the sock as a wash cloth - it'll be a bit slimy but you can cover yourself and let it sink in while you have a soak. It worked wonders for DD, she doesn't have eczema now but whenever any of us get dry/flakey we revert to oat baths. Make sure you tie the sock off with an elastic band well or you'll end up soaking in weak porridge! The bath will need a rinse out afterwards, best to do it straight away so it doesn't dry on. Empty sock into bin/loo after, rinse out and reuse. An oat bath followed by plenty of Aveeno should help if you have it as your new routine. Generally, I think lots of hot baths with bubbles can be very drying/irritating for some people's skin? If you want the oat bath to smell nice you could add a few drops of lavender oil, that's what we used to use and it never did any harm.

I squeezed in some Aveeno bath oil stuff, the same as what you wash with.

Thanks MrMen I'm currently running an oat bath and have my Aveeno ready for me getting out. Yes I agree the bubble bath will have probably played a part in this. Lesson learned. I'm feeling hopeful can't thank you all enough for your advice or I'd probably still be using that bloody aqueous.

Buster I didn't bother with the bath oil in the end I almost bought it I probably will try it at some point if the oats don't help.

The Aveeno cream seems to be stinging my legs a bit . Is this normal or shoukd I refrain from using it? Was feeling so hopeful this would work.

Doublebase gel is excellent otherwise go for Aveeno, Intense Moisture Cream in the tub is best.

I'm not sure why the Aveeno would be stinging! The bubble bath definitely would've caused you issues, it's strong stuff, I once put too much baby bath in my dons bath and he got eczema all over his face. I never used it again in his bath, it's basically super strong soap! Maybe if your legs are very sore you could try olive oil rubbed into them!

Son's bath!

They might be sure as the bath has dried them out not because of the Aveeno.

Another good option (if it's available in U.K.) is cerave. It goes on easily but is a nice thick cream so shouldn't sting.

Emollients are a bit trial and error and what works for someone else might not work for you.

It sounds very possible that the bubble bath is drying out your skin. Too hot baths also not good. Sorry, it's shit having sensitive skin.

Buster I mentioned earlier I'd been using e45, well the same thing happened when I was applying that so I'm not sure whether my skin is just so badly damaged that anything that goes on is irritating it. The oat bath definitely made my skin feel a lot softer but after I dried the rash went all tight which it always does after a bath and that's when I applied the Aveeno. It's like a mild stinging/tingling. Very annoying. I will try it once more tonight and if the same thing happens I'm going to just stick with the oat baths and hydrocorstine.

Thank you Apple. It is the worst, I don't deal well when it comes to rashes etc. I'd take back all my other pregnancy symptoms the horrendous sickness and heartburn over this any day. I'm now beginning to wonder if the Dr has misdiagnosed me. I'm back at the dermatologist next week if the steroid cream hasn't made an improvement so hopefully she will be able to help further (hopefully I don't have to see her though!).

Aqueous is shite and it pisses me off that GPS prescribe it! I went to GP last week bec of DD17's hormonal skin. She has inherited my dry, sensitive skin with eczema thrown in for good measure.

Discussed with GP, he asked me if we like Aveeno as he'd "heard it's good". FFS. Trouble is GPs only do a very short training on skin issues and know next to nothing, some dermatologists are also far less knowledgeable than people who live with eczema and have researched and tried a million different things.

I recommend Aveeno, wider range available on Amazon. I use the Intensive Skin Relief as well as lighter moisturising lotions. Also try Pure Potions Dry Skin range, Skin Salvation is good, they also do a lip balm and bath oil. www.purepotions.co.uk/collections/dry-skin-range

Diprobase so good but lots of people recommend Dermol500

What steroid cream did she give you? The hydrocortisone? They can give you much stronger than that, even in pregnancy. It's best to get it cleared up because the damage to the skin from the dermatitis is worse than the possible side effects of the steroids so don't hesitate to go back to the dermatologist.

Do you have your bath water quite hot? If so, while your skin is sore perhaps it might be an idea to have them cooler and not stay in for so long - or have fewer baths, say every other night? Too much washing can cause irritation. Never experienced Aveeno stinging, maybe like you say you're so irritated at the moment that anything would sting? Give it a couple of days perhaps and see how it goes. I think I'd knock the daily bath off though.

Bagel thanks for all those suggestions. I totally agree with what you're saying I actually feel I'm getting better advice from sufferers on here with experience rather than what the medical professionals have told me. I keep being recommended diprobase and doublebase. Definitely going to try one of those out.

Apple it's a canesten with hydrocortisone 1%. The doctor I spoke to today did say that if it's not cleared up by the time I got back then the dermatologist while likely prescribe me with a higher percentage and that's it's safe in pregnancy. I wish they'd just bloody gave me the higher percentage in from the start it's really getting me down.

I've not had a decent sleep since this appeared 3/4 weeks ago. It's to uncomfortable on my skin to lie on my side so I've been falling asleep flat on my back which with a growing bump is also not very comfortable. I feel so pathetic moaning about it but it really is horrible I just have to hope it gets better rather than worse.

MrMen yip, roasting hot baths with loads of bubbles which I top up with more hot water when it starts to cool down. At least an hour every night. I do think I've brought it on myself. The only time I actually feel relief is when I'm in the bath. When I had my oat bath tonight I had a it a lot cooler and stayed in for about 15 minutes so will be keeping to that from now on.

I'm really grateful for everyone's tips and advice I'm so glad I posted here.

OP I'm a long term eczema sufferer and have found mines gone mental since I've been pregnant.

Cetraben is the moisturiser we use here. In the early days of diagnosis I tried pretty much every cream going and most made it worse.

Would agree that cooler and less frequent washing might help. Avoid scratchy fabrics and stick to cotton if you can. Perhaps think about stress levels and diet as both of these can make mine worse.

Oh no Lockie you have my sympathy

So many different products being recommended to me I'm taking a note of them all so I do appreciate it. I live in leggings so am always either in them or when I'm at home I just have bare legs. Finally a benefit of not working at the moment! Thanks for the advice!

Just tried again with Aveeno cream and no stinging so fingers crossed. This has been horrible though I really feel for people who have to live with this (and much worse) daily it must be absolute torture!

Get them to prescribe you an antihistamine too if they haven't already. It'll knock you out a bit and stop the itching so should help you sleep. There are plenty that are considered safe in pregnancy.

Definitely cooler baths (although I understand the heat temporarily takes away the itch) and let yourself air dry or gently pat skin and then apply. I've found that applying cream to skin which is still warm from a bath/shower somehow "locks" the heat in and makes itching worse. Might just be me, of course! Try and let the skin sink in before you get dressed and wear loose, cotton fabrics if you can.

You've made me remember that I had a bloody awful rash when I was pregnant for the 2nd time (17yrs ago!) so you have my complete sympathy.

Apple the male nurse I saw twice during the week told me both times that as there's no proof of antihistamines being a few in pregnancy then he would not be willing to give me then. However yesterday the midwife told me that's rubbish and they are happy for pregnant ladies to take Piriton. The doctor I saw yesterday advised that he would prescribe me them but for this kind of rash it wouldn't do much for it ex pet from making me a bit drowsy. I think I will buy some today no harm in seeing how it goes.

Bagel That's exactly what I do, I always air dry. I think you're right and I applied the cream far too soon after my bath. Won't be doing that again in a hurry! I always have my bath at night so I'm straight into a night gown as I can't bare anything touching my legs. The rash is on my inner thighs and the backs of my knees. It is also slightly on the inside of my elbows and the doctor said you can see it slightly on my back as well but neither of these bother me too much. I guess I'm lucky it's only bothering my legs I wouldn't cope if it was my entire body! Did you have your rash through your full pregnancy until you gave birth?

A few = safe
Ex pet = except

CETAPHIL - aqueous is the devil and Aveeno wasn't brill on me :/ x

Another one to add to the list for future, thanks River. Skin is so much better today starting to feel a bit more positive. Not sure whether it's the steroid cream, the Aveeno cream or the oat bath but either way I can't thank you all enough for your help! If I hadn't came on here I'd probably still be suffering and using aqueous.

I can't remember how long I had the rash for (sorry, horrendous memory) but I remember having it with quite a big bump, so it probably was through to the end. But I think it was more on my torso rather than arms and legs.

Other things to look at: La Roche Posay do a cream called Lipikar Baume seems to have good reviews for itchy skin, one says she put it in the fridge so it was very cooling and soothing. Also, Golden Turmeric cream might be worth a try. You can get small sample sizes for most of her products. Good luck!