“I love your blog as it is very informative. As someone who struggled with a child that had eczema/atopic dermatitits (and what ever else the doctors called it) for years I wanted to share my experience in general and with a specific product that worked wonders for me and a few friends of mine.

I had eczema with my son. It took about 3 years of experimenting (I even tried a kinesiologist who claimed he could rid his body of allergy and toxins..) and trying different options to get it under control.

These are my observations based on my journey:

1) all the regular aveeno’s and other cream don’t help

2) I noticed that certain foods made the eczema worse that did NOT show up in allergy testing

3) certain materials (like baby sleepers) made it worse

4) other then cortisone the ONLY thing that worked for me was a cream that a friend told me about from Israel called ‘heimlich clear cream’.

Originally I did not want to try it as I was more than a bit skeptical to a claims of a natural cream that works and its a bit expensive but eventually I bought it and it works magic whenever it flares up.

Instead of using cortisones when it flares up I now use this cream.

If anyone wants to try it (or if you want to add it to your list) I noticed they are now selling it only at  heimlichclearcream.net.”

I’ve never heard of this cream, but checking out the website, it definitely looks like it’s worth trying.  Thanks Esther for taking the time to share this valuable information!

P.S. Do you have any experiences or eczema remedies you would like to share?  Let us know via our contact form or e-mail eczemaremedyblog@gmail.com.

Topical Steroid Creams

Cortisone or steroid creams are typically prescribed by physicians, though there are some available over the counter.  Steroid creams are especially effective for easing itchy skin, inflammation, and redness.  Steroid eczema creams vary in strength, ranging from mild, moderate, potent and very potent.  Factors including age, severity of eczema, and the size of the area and part of body determines the strength of a steroid cream a doctor prescribes. Below is a table of steroid creams and their corresponding strength:

*Based on chart found on http://www.eczemaallergy.net/steroids1.htm

Using steroid creams may cause various side effects including thinning of the skin, skin discoloration, stretch marks, and immune system suppression.  Prolonged use may also lead to an intolerance to steroids.  Because of this, steroid creams should only be used for short term use as directed by a physician.   If the eczema condition worsens or is unresponsive to steroids, treatment needs to be re-evaluated.

Non-Steroidal Prescription Creams for Eczema

Of course, steroid creams are not the only creams for eczema available for prescription.  Elidel® (pimecrolimus)is such a cream for those with mild to moderate eczema.  It may also be prescribed for those who are unresponsive to steroid creams.  This cream works by changing the skin’s defense (immune) system, decreasing allergic reactions that cause eczema.

Like steroid creams Elidel® may cause side effects, especially after prolonged use.  Some side effects may include:  headaches, infections, sore throat, fever, rash, dizziness, and trouble breathing.  Elidel may also cause skin sensitivity to the sun.  The FDA has also found other severe side effects caused by Elidel® including various types of skin cancers and vitiligo.

If you decide to use Elidel® due to a doctor’s recommendation, it should only be used for a very short period of time.  Elidel® should not be used by those with a weakened immune system and never be used on babies under two years old.

Protopic is a non-steroidal prescription eczema cream for those with severe cases of eczema.  Protopic works as an immunosuppressant that works by decreasing cell activity in the body’s immune system to help slow down the growth of eczema on the skin.    Like Elidel, Protopic has a number of serious potential side effects and should be used only as a last resort if no other treatment has proven to be effective.  Protopic also increases the skin’s sensitivity to sunlight and is also linked to cancer.

Neosalus cream is a new non-steroidal cream introduced cleared by the FDA in April of 2009.  Neosalus works by providing a skin barrier while reducing inflammation.  Very little information such as indications and side effects is known about the cream at this time.

Over the Counter Creams

There are a number of eczema creams and lotions available over the counter.  A good eczema lotion or cream should be fairly thick and unscented.  Below are the most effective and commonly used creams and lotions:

Antihistamines
Antihistamines are applied to the skin to help alleviate itching, reducing the risk of infection and helping eczema rashes to heal faster.  The most common antihistamine cream is Benadryl.

Moisturizing and Softening Creams
Unscented moisturizing creams help to maintain moisture in the skin while help avoiding rashes.  The best creams are unscented and are non-irritants. Vaseline petroleum jelly is effective for maintaining rash-free skin.  Creams such as Aquaphor and Eucerin are popular thick ointments that are known to be very useful as well.  Aveeno Eczema Care moisturizing cream is another unscented and gentle cream that is popular among eczema sufferers, especially those with sensitive skin.

Eczema Lotion
In addition to creams, there are a variety of lotions that are help maintain the skin’s moisture.  Like creams, it is important to use emollient lotions that are unscented and non-irritating.  Eczema lotions such as Lubriderm and Moisturel Therpeutic, lotion are very useful for skin that has open and weepy rashes.  Other good eczema lotions include Cetaphil, Aveeno, Dermarest, and Eucerin.

Natural Creams For Eczema

There are also a number of natural eczema creams on the market that provide relief without negative side effects.  Natural/organic creams for usually contain herbal elements that treat eczema holistically.  However, not all “natural” eczema creams are created equal, so it is especially important to read the ingredients to make sure there is truly no synthetic or irritating ingredients.  You can read more about natural eczema creams here.

So what is the best cream for you?  Well that depends on the type of eczema and the severity of the condition.  There is no “magic bullet” cream that will work for everyone.  Since every case of eczema is unique, you may need to try more than one cream/lotion to find the one that will work best for you.

Active Manuka Honey Cream

Manuka honey is quickly gaining a reputation for its powerful healing properties that are effective in treating eczema. Manuka honey contains strong antibacterial and antimicrobial properties that fight bacteria and eliminate infection.  In addition, this powerful honey can heal damaged skin, regenerate skin cells, eliminate dry patches formed by eczema, and reduce inflamed skin.  Manuka honey is native to a New Zealand tree.

Active Manuka Honey Cream is skin moisturizer made in New Zealand.  This cream is rich in proteins, vitamins and minerals that is safe even for sensitive skin.  Here are some other reasons why Active Manuka Honey is a great cream for eczema:

• No fragrance
• All natural ingredients, no need to worry about harsh chemicals
• Contains antioxidants to keep the skin looking young
• Effectively fights bacteria, and is comparable (or better!) to steroid creams without the side effects.

Florasone

Florasone is a natural homeopathic cream that is the first natural alternative to cortisone creams introduced in the United States.  Florasone’s active ingredient is 10% tincture of Cardiospermum. Cardiospermum is a flowering tropical vine that has anti-inflammatory properties.  This plant has be used as medicine in Africa and India for centuries.  Florasone is a one of the best eczema treatment creams because it:

• Is effective at relieving itching and inflammation
• Absorbs quickly and  is Non Greasy
• Is an Alternative to corticosteroid creams that can be used for the long-term
• Is Clinically proven to be effective.

ClearSkin-E Cream

Natural (not synthetic) vitamin E has been used to treat eczema because of its ability to repair dry, cracked skin.  Vitamin E oil also helps to promote and support healthy skin cells.

ClearSkin-E Cream is a vitamin E based cream that moisturizes and soothes the skin.  In addition to vitamin E, the cream also has other eczema fighting ingredients such as neem, licorice, and chickweed.  These are the reasons why ClearSkin-E is an ideal eczema cream:

• All natural ingredients. You won’t find any harmful petrochemicals, parabens, or sulfates in this tube!
• Moisturizes and softens the skin
• Gentle enough for all ages
• Maintains overall skin health

You don’t always have to resort to using creams that have negative side effects.  Any of the three creams of eczema will prove to be superior.

Creams on Amazon:

• Active Manuka Honey Cream
• Florasone
• Clearskin E Cream
  

The product sounds interesting, but I’m concerned with how this product will affect the body in the long term, or if it has any adverse side effects. Only time will tell, so this product is worth watching!

Read the more about Neosalus here.

* Cream approved in April 2009