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Allergies and intolerances

Are there good alternatives to aveno cream for eczema?

21 replies

kittywits · 05/10/2006 18:21

Hi, I posted a little while back asking for ideas on good creams to help with the severe eczema flare ups my 3 yr old dd gets. Many people recommended Aveno cream and oil, so I got loads from the doc. However, when I put them om dd, even with unbroken skin she started really screaming complaing that it hurt her and it was burning. When I looked her skin had turned bright red . It did look like a bad reaction to the cream. has anyone else experienced this and what could I use instead?

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kittywits · 05/10/2006 19:18

anyone?

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bewilderbeast · 05/10/2006 19:18

Haven't seen your other post so sorry if this suggests things you've already tried or that have already been suggested. Not a treatment for the sore skin but have you tried bicarb baths when she's really itchy its really good and works for chicken pox too. What about reducing acidic foods in her diet tomatos and oranges set mine off like nobodys business. When I was little oilatum used to work well but its bloody expensive. Balneum is also good to put in the bath. Can't think of any creams that worked on my excema when little that didn't have steroids in them. Water always made it worse so maybe bath a little less if you currently bath everyday. Sorry if this is bugger all help but I know how your little girl feels its awful.

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dizzybint · 05/10/2006 19:22

i found aveeno made dd's eczema worse too. doctor prescribed aqueous cream which did nothing and i since found out it conatins skin irritants. then hv gave me a prescription for hydramol. it's working wonders. her eczema used to be all over the backs of her legs and arms and from her neck down to her belly button, now it's just a bit on her chest and that's it. i also use oilatum in her baths. she does only have maybe 3 baths a week though.

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kittywits · 05/10/2006 19:27

Dizzybint is hydramol steroid based?
I also know that swimming makes it all much worse, but she loves it so much. I can't bring myself to stop her coming with us all.

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mamamaaargh · 05/10/2006 19:50

You can get Oilatum from the doctor - it is a bath oil although I think they may do other products. Sorry about the bad reaction to Aveeno. Ouch. I know Aqueous cream has that effect on me and doesn't help at all. Before I had aqueous cream, I used to get Oilatum & I loved it. The only problem is that the bath oil makes the bath really slippery.

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mammyjo · 05/10/2006 20:07

My ds has epaderm which is a petroleum jelly based emollient. It seems to work for him and he does get nasty flare ups. I get it on prescription from the gp for him.

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Coolmama · 05/10/2006 20:09

oilatum is available at Boots off the shelf

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doggiesayswoof · 05/10/2006 20:13

Same as mammyjo - dd also has epaderm. It works well. I got it from hv. I sometimes use it on my own eczema too and it helps.

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iris66 · 05/10/2006 20:16

A vote for oilatum here too. DS reacted badly to vaseline and aqueous cream but is fine with oilatum (poss because it's paraffin based?)We've not tried aveno though in all fairness.

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marymillington · 05/10/2006 20:17

we've had some success with allergenics lotion from holland & barrett

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dizzybint · 05/10/2006 20:26

hydromol isnt steroid based. if you google it they have a website. it's paraffin based, like oilatum.

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kittywits · 05/10/2006 20:50

Thanks for the info ladies, I have looked those things up and will give them a try. I'm willing to try anything new. Her skin seems to react badly to so many of the prescribed emolients. What is it in aveeno that could be such an irritant, does anyone know?

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MellyMum · 05/10/2006 21:12

Have you tried ULTRABASE emollient cream on prescription? I first started to use it when my own eczema was v bad with flair ups on my face. It had an immediate effect and after a day or so of using it my skin began peeling as if I had burnt it (which is often how the eczema made it feel) and had just massively rehydrated it. It left much smoother skin that felt v much relieved. If you havent used it before and are thinking of maybe trying I would just say check the contents in case of anything that you are aware is an irritant to your dd. Hope something sparks an improvement soon.

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beaner07 · 05/10/2006 21:39

Kittywits, we use Hemp Body Butter from the Body Shop on DS BUT it doesn't seem to calm the redness at all (even the steroid cream doesn't for him though).

But before we started using this his skin, especially his legs, was REALLY dry and this cream was brilliant, made a difference in a few days but it doesn't stop him scratching though, that's a never ending battle!

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kittywits · 05/10/2006 22:36

Thanks everyone, I'm going to check all the ingredients on the Aveeno. God it's such a pain. I had this as a child but never as bad.

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3monkeys · 05/10/2006 22:40

Try emulsifying ointment. was fab for DS1, suggested by hospital, really cheap over the counter

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hayleyhew · 13/10/2006 20:48

Hi
My son has eczema and I have been using Elenas Nature Collection for 3 months now - it is brill! However, it is really expensive but I have managed to get it on the NHS www.elenascollection.co.uk - take a look.

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1n2s · 20/10/2006 18:47

Just written a bit on the first ezcema link about emollients and the application. Sometimes the skin stings because its soo dry and when it comes into contact with the cream it smarts. This will settle tho if you keep applying it. Alternatives to Aveeno cream are Diprobase cream, Doublebase gel, Oilatum cream, Unguentam Merc... there are loads of creams out there now, why not try an ointment based product instead, all of the above are available in ointments - a little bit sticky but far more effective!!

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fsmail · 22/10/2006 15:12

I use Bee Propolis cream from Forever Living Products on my own.

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Chandra · 22/10/2006 21:36

Ds hated the Aveno Lotion that had mentol in it but was fine with the regular one. As for the burning, we found that the only one that didn't sting when the skin had cracks was Diprobase, so, during crack days was diprobase and as soon as the skin had healed we went back to Eucerin 10% Urea. (BTW that's the only product that works for DS when Aveeno doesn't)

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Chandra · 22/10/2006 21:36

Ds hated the Aveno Lotion that had mentol in it but was fine with the regular one. As for the burning, we found that the only one that didn't sting when the skin had cracks was Diprobase, so, during crack days was diprobase and as soon as the skin had healed we went back to Eucerin 10% Urea. (BTW that's the only product that works for DS when Aveeno doesn't)

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