Best OTC treatment for eczema?

[Chris]

Sarah had her four year check up last month and I asked the doctor about a rash that wouldn't go away and he said it was eczema. He told me to use Eucerin lotion. I found it interesting that after she received a steriod injection for croup, her rash cleared up completely. Unfortunately, that didn't last long.

I bought some Cetaphil cleanser and Eucerin lotion with Oatmeal tonight. Does anyone have a better suggestion? I think we probably need to see a dematologist. I'm going to miss that wonderful lavender scent from the baby wash and lotion that we normally use. Sarah always smells so good.

Chris

[andrewsmom]

I have EXTREMELY sensitive skin. I used to be a hairdresser (many moons ago) and I owned my own salon. I had to sell it because my hands got so bad, they would bleed and it was sooo painful. I went to the dermatologist and she gave me a steroid cream to use and it worked great!! My hands still get bad now when I do alot of cleaning around the house (hmmm... maybe I shouldn't clean then?? LOL!!!). But anyway, to make a long story short, I now use cortisone 10 and eucerin. There is also a bath solution called "domeboro" that works great too. Good luck!
_trisha

[Cathy]

Chris,

We had to go with chemical free soaps, lotions and shampoos on Katie. Her skin has been so much better since, also, I cannot bathe her everyday unless she is absolutely filthy.

We use Vanacream soap and lotion and Free and Clear Shampoo. They are costly but can be special ordered through Wal-Mart.

Let me know what the dermatologist says. Hugs to Sarah and good luck!

Cathy

[Pat]

I think my friend used Desinex. The baby rash stuff.
Pat

[Tammy]

Chris, my daughter (non DS) was and still is a chronic excema sufferer.
As a baby, her skin would open up and bleed, and she never ever had that really soft smooth bay skin we all love.
We tried every cream and lotion under the sun to "fix" her skin, sadly most of which made her worse.
We ended up taking her for professional help and the Drs all prescribed cortisone based creams.
They also noted that she was asthmatic, which is caused by the same gene... the very same gene that causes allergies of any kind. We were then advised to take not of the ingredients in all products that came into contact with her skin, including washing powder/liquid and fabric softeners.
Over time we did this, and eventually worked out which products affected her, and which did not.
Interesting to note, ALL the products that had an effect on her skin contained either Salycilic Acid, or Citric acid, or both. Even more interesting is that salycilates (contained in Aspirin, and Naturally occurring in many foods, esp citrus fruits) are also strong triggers for asthma...Salycilic acid being the same but slightly different, if you get what I mean.
I tell you, it was truely trial and error for about 2 years before we actually got her excema under control and no longer needed cortisone creams.
Even now, at 11, if she sleeps over a friends house who uses a different washing powder on their sheets, she will have a breakout, although not as bad as when she was younger, so I hope she is growing out of the worst.
I have never felt the need to wrap her in cotton wool over this... we always have medication for outbreaks if the occur, and for the best part, because of our knowledge of her allergies, she is usually excema free.
If you have any more questions please ask... I am only happy to try and help, as I KNOW how hard it was for us.

[Tammy]

I forgot to mention we used to bath her in Pine Tar solution.
Brand name here "Pinetarsol" by Ego pharmaceuticals, but most pharmacies have their own brand of the same thing much cheaper. Works well on nappy rash too.

[Connie]

Chris,

I just took Collin to the doctor last week for and illness and we discussed his eczema he gets every fall and has until late spring. She is having me use a mild steroid cream for 2 weeks then use ELIDEL for 2 weeks and repeat. So far it is starting to clear up but we have only been doing this for about 10 days now. She did tell me to get something thick like vasoline or a cream and cake it on his cheeks when he goes out...use it as a barrier.

Connie

[ashliesmomheidi]

Ashlie has really bad Excema right now and her ped prescribed Elidel and it has worked GREAT for her so far!

[ALLISA]

Elidel is not OTC....But like everyone else is saying,,,,,it is GREAT.....my oldest has bad eczame.....the Elidel clears it right away ( within a week)...then we use Eucerin ......his probelm is.....that once its gone & looking great....he doesn't use ANY lotion.,....then it rears right back very ugly !!