What can I get for itchy dry skin that works? Any eczema veterans around?

[drjohnsonscat]

Am really struggling this winter with itchy dry skin especially on my stomach. There are a few patches of discoloration - like a very mild eczema and I guess that's what it is. I've tried Boots Derma Care for very dry skin which hasn't helped and also E45 and E45 Itchy Skin Relief to no avail.

What should I be using? I only use non-bio washing powder but should I also switch to something even milder?

Any tips welcome as I am really, really itching.

[HobKnob]

I'm a carer so my experience is only with the elderly really, but we tend to use Doublebase, but applied 3-4 times a day religiously. You can tell the clients whose skin is creamed regularly.

[MegBusset]

E45 isn't recommended for eczema sufferers as it contains lanolin. We use Doublebase on DS1.

[thenightsky]

I use Sudocreme on myself. It seems to be the only thing that works.

[LBsBongers]

Would second Aveeno, dark blue cap, it's oatmeal not petrolum (?) based and thats the key for me.

[pinkpaperpiggy]

La Roche Posay Lipikar Baume AP. Works well on dry itchy skin.

[Twinklestarstwinklestars]

Aveeno here too, I get the lotion and bath stuff on prescription. The oatmeal in it cools my skin which used to burn like mad before.

[Princesspond]

I was going to say Aveeno also or doublebase, we get them both on prescription they work well for my children. I think you have to find which one works for you and use them frequently.

[Oldieandgoldie]

I have very dry skin (and eczema) and find Waitrose Baby Bottom Butter works for me. Lanolin is no-go area here too.
Now if only someone old find me a shampoo I don't react too......

[Superene]

Porridge oats tied up in a little bag/bit of old tights, chuck in the bath, give a squeeze to release the oatmilk - it works wonders, and the amazing cream that is A-Derma Exomega, a French oat based eczema cream available from independent chemists and internet, that instantly works on my ds. Much more effective than Aveeno in our house.

[Oldieandgoldie]

oops
*could find me a shampoo I don't react to....

[Superene]

Oo, for shampoo try Original Sprout. Amazing and easy to get online.

[YourHandInMyHand]

Cetraben works well on DS, and a few other people I know.

[GroupieGirl]

Shampoo wise, have you tried any Lush products? I use 'Big' which contains sea salt and doesn't seem to irritate my daughter's skin.

Is doublebase another name for diprobase? Or are they different things?

[upinthehills]

Aveeno here too - my DC can go to sleep with sore red mouth from winter, I slap it on a couple of time in the evening and they wake up with perfect skin!

[sheepflower]

I have very dry itchy skin and use aqueous cream. It's the only thing that works. It's £4 a big tub from the chemist.

[catkind]

Our doctor said you can use all sorts of things for the dry skin aspect, but if it's also red/itchy it is eczema and best to treat it with a steroid cream. You can get a mild one like hydrocortisone OTC, that's prob what GP would prescribe in the first instance anyway.

[SeagullsAreLikeThat]

Doublebase here too (different to Diprobase) although Dermol 500 is quite good too.

Top tip: cover yourself in cream BEFORE having a shower or bath as well as after. Can make a huge difference.

Shampoos I struggle with constantly, the only one I don't react to is Nutrogena T Gel but not the coal tar ones. They do one for everyday use which needs no conditioner, leaves hair soft but doesn't have anything nasty in it.

[drjohnsonscat]

ooh this is so helpful, thank you.

I did go into one of our local pharmacies and they just tried to flog me something expensive and full of perfume so I knew I'd get a better answer on here

Will go in tomorrow armed with names. DCs also suffer a bit and DD gets the red skin around her lips when it's cold so it sounds like we all need to get cream on. Didn't know about lanolin but that makes sense because what I was using seemed to make DS's skin worse not better.

[LAK11]

Diprobase!!!! I am now under dermatologist due to weird rash - not eczema - possible psoriasis guttate, but diprobase is the only thing that is working.

[busymummy3]

Don't use Aqueous Cream it makes skin itch Dermatologist told me that it is a soap substitute NOT a moisturiser , it tends to be prescribed by GP'S apparently because it is cheap ( was told this when I asked why prescribed to my DS from being newborn ) Wasrescribed Doublebase by Dematologist which has worked but was told no problem if it didn't would just keep trying different ones until suitable one found.

[SeagullsAreLikeThat]

Agreed. I've been told by several GPs that with eczema, what suits one person may not suit another and they just go through the book trying things until something works.

For any small patches on the face (DS gets really sore around his mouth and chin in Winter) we find just simple Vaseline slapped on liberally at any opportunity both protects and heals. We go through tubs of it!

[Fuzzymum1]

Another vote for cetraben, DS3 gets it on prescription and it's really effective on dry itchy skin.You can buy it online from chemistdirect

[oldraver]

I use DoubleBase in the summer as my eczema isnt as bad and Cetraban in the winter and as a soap in the shower.

I recently went to buy some OTC Hydrocortisone as had forgotten to order it and had a flare up and found out that OTC is 1%. The pharmacist said you couldn't buy 0.25% it had to be prescribed, which did seem odd but then I suppose as its what you would use for longer term use that maybe why ?