Eczema 'bubble bath' treatment!

[sarahpenny]

Hello all. I have a quite mild case of eczema and I am addicted to bath oils/bubble baths etc. Of course the 2 don't go together! Does any one have any cheap ideas for something I can lob in the bath? I have tried oat meal and wondered if anyone could suggest any thing else. Thanks v. much

[noonesperfect]

Sadly hot water and eczema don't go together either (espcially "having a soak") as it dries your skin thereby making it more irritated. If you suffer from eczema a shower really is better.

I use the shower gel from this place and it's wonderful, they also do a Neem40 bubble bath and another bath treatment which is good for sufferers of psoriasis and eczema (wouldn't call it bubble bath though!!). I don't suffer but my OH does.

On the face of it it may not seem all that cheap, but there's a money back guarantee if it doesn't work and is often cheaper than some of the hyped-up organic stuff. (no chemicals in Neem stuff from here).

http://www.neemgenie.co.uk/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Category_Code=004

[vicks276]

I have dermatitis and I use Manuka honey directly on my skin. I guess you could put some in a bath! It has active ingredients (I use +5) and they use it in hospitals to heal wounds and stuff, and it also tastes lovely on toast. But at £5+ a pot I won't be spreading it on my toast lol!

[BallandChain]

This website has a mine of information about eczema.

http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/medicines/100001919.html

The Oilatum bath formula is described here:

http://www.stiefel.co.uk/consumer/adult/product.asp?pID=52&n=OILATUM+Bath+Formula

I suffer with eczema and use aqueous cream to shower with and to wash my hands. You can get it from any local pharmacy for under £2 for a 500g tub. Don't go to Boots or Superdrug as they are dear in comparison.

For those who suffer with contact dermatitis affecting the hands, use Doublebase cream (prescribed by doctor) with cotton gloves (to protect the bed sheets) again, I got those from my local pharmacy, cost about £1.50 to £2 for a pair.

It is advised that medical attention is sought to get a proper diagnosis and it may take a few different creams until you find one that is suitable for you.

[iwanttosave]

I used oilatum for my son as a bath oil when he had a skin condition. I ended up using it after finding out how lovely and soft it left my skin.

[BallandChain]

The thing is with eczema and contact dermatitis is I've had to rethink the way I wash. I always used soap and could not imagine using cream to wash with! The first time I did it I thought I can't get on with this. (Conditioned to think soap=clean) So, I reverted back to soap, skin got even worse, then I had to change my showering/washing hands habits.

It's funny how you get used to a certain habit as now I cannot imagine going back to soap ever and my skin is so much better. When you reach that really painful stage the health of your skin is more important and you won't look back.

Soaps and bubble baths are a no no for anyone with skin problems.

Just to add that Doublebase cream comes in a 500g pump dispenser and you can get it online without a prescription (not advised). It is cheaper with a doctor's prescription as online it is nearly £10! Expensive mistake if it doesn't agree with you.

[vicks276]

Also, you can get a shower gel and bath creme on prescription from the doctor called Dermol - it's very good for eczema and dermatitis. They are pretty big bottles too.

[Ophie]

I currently use Halos n Horns range (http://www.halosnhorns.co.uk/)for my daughter.

It works fantastically well as all the chemicals that could irritate skin have been removed. Smells nice too... but no bubbles I'm afraid... well minimal.

I've found that the E45 bubble bath stuff is just as irritating to her skin.

[bloomin freezing]

I was just reading the other posts before I wrote one which is identical to yours!!

I too use halos and horns for my 2yr old daughter. I suffer from eczema, and sadly she has quite a few dry/red patches on her skin. I find halos and horns does not irritate her skin at all. Sometimes I squirt some under the running tap for a few bubbles but you won't get that many. It costs just under £3 in most places.

[wmf]

Thanks for the advice on halos and horns. i haven't heard of that. DS21 has eczema which got a lot worse when he started smoking a few years ago (gave up on Jan 2nd - fingers crossed). Things that work for him are Oilatum bath stuff if he REALLY wants a bath, shea butter (I buy a fair trade one from ...aaarrggg... where again? some place near Reading - gets supplies from Ghana (I can find out if anyone wants to know), ungenteum (sp??) barrier cream (from independent chemists - Boots said they have stopped stocking it) and he was certainly better when nhe cut out dairy a few years ago. He was in hospital a couple of months ago with something else but the consultant is setting him up with an appointment for a dermatologist so fingers crossed he'll get some more advice. He also finds that drinking loads of water helps and that makes sense as i read somewhere that the 2 best things you can do to keep your skin in good condition(generally, not eczema related) are to drink water and wear sun cream every day.
W

[sarahpenny]

Thanks so much to all the people who replied with suggestions, will def. try a couple.
Money Saving Community = Brilliance!:rotfl:

[bandraoi]

E45 is great stuff and you can get it in tubs that are thicker than the normal cream. You put huge dollops of the cream in the bath and it's lovely.

They also seem to have a bath and shower forumla

http://www.e45.com/

[Savvy_Sue]

Thanks so much to all the people who replied with suggestions, will def. try a couple.
Money Saving Community = Brilliance!:rotfl:I also commend to you the National Eczema Society (http://www.eczema.org). You'll realise that whatever your problem, someone's got a worse one!

[Violetta]

I also commend to you the National Eczema Society (http://www.eczema.org). You'll realise that whatever your problem, someone's got a worse one!
Thanks for that Savvy_Sue was having a look round the sight (looks a bit old) and spotted a banner for Elave (http://www.elave.co.uk/index.php) has anyone tried any of their stuff I get a few patches of eczema sometimes especially on my hands (allergic to washing up) and my back&shoulders which I think is caused by shampoo/conditioner:confused: no matter how well I rinse. Anyhoo I might try and track some of this down.

[Savvy_Sue]

Thanks for that Savvy_Sue was having a look round the sight (looks a bit old) and spotted a banner for Elave (http://www.elave.co.uk/index.php) has anyone tried any of their stuff I get a few patches of eczema sometimes especially on my hands (allergic to washing up) and my back&shoulders which I think is caused by shampoo/conditioner:confused: no matter how well I rinse. Anyhoo I might try and track some of this down.It's not a site I go to very often, but we're members and I always enjoy reading Exchange. It does look as if it's a few months behind the times! Haven't used Elave myself.

On the subject of E45 products, DH finds the Wash better than the Shower, or maybe it's the other way round. :confused: Anyway, it's worth trying both if one of them is OK for you: the cream always used to have lanolin in, which disagreed with my boys when they were younger.

[DrFluffy]

Take a trip to Lush. I have psoriasis and can use all their products on my skin (tres rare!)

They also have a website: www.lush.co.uk

[PrincessTaylor]

Nowadays Lush put far too many nasty chemicals into some of their stuff (SLS in soaps for example)
My daughter suffers from excema and she has tried most of the prescribed stuff mentioned above and then some. We did find Dermol very effective but i worried about the amount of chemicals used on her skin as we were advised to use Dermol with Aqueous cream, Hydrocotisone, Piriton and Caneston together.
After searching high and low we eventually started using organic cocoa butter and organic coconut oil on her skin. For soap we used African Black soap and sometimes shea butter & neem soap. All of these are chemical free and didn't irritate her. When her excema now begins to flare up i find that using the coconut oil a few times a day is enough to calm it down.

I had a quick look at the Halo and Horns site, it looks promising but there is no list of ingredients! It would be interesting to see what all it does contain although its good that it has no SLS and parabens

[noonesperfect]

Nowadays Lush put far too many nasty chemicals into some of their stuff (SLS in soaps for example)
My daughter suffers from excema and she has tried most of the prescribed stuff mentioned above and then some. We did find Dermol very effective but i worried about the amount of chemicals used on her skin as we were advised to use Dermol with Aqueous cream, Hydrocotisone, Piriton and Caneston together.
After searching high and low we eventually started using organic cocoa butter and organic coconut oil on her skin. For soap we used African Black soap and sometimes shea butter & neem soap. All of these are chemical free and didn't irritate her. When her excema now begins to flare up i find that using the coconut oil a few times a day is enough to calm it down.

I had a quick look at the Halo and Horns site, it looks promising but there is no list of ingredients! It would be interesting to see what all it does contain although its good that it has no SLS and parabens

At last! another enlightened being who acknowledges the properties of Neem the wondertree! :T

[PrincessTaylor]

:D Thank you :beer:

[bloomin freezing]

fyI, hALOS'N'hORNS INGREDIENTS...... (Sorry caps lock was on!)

This is from the kids zingy orange hair and body wash........

Aqua
Decyl Glucoside
Cocamide DEA
Acrylates Copolymer
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Glycerin
Triethanolamine
Parfum
Phenoxethanol
Methyldibromo
Glutaronitrile
Denatonium Benzoate

It states they do NOT include SLS,Phthalates,MIT,Parabens,Triclosan,Propylene glycol or SLES.

Hope this is of use to someone. x

[goldspanners]

both me and my sister have skin problems,i have dermatitis on my hands and she has exema,when she goes for a bath she puts oats into an old pair of tights and puts these in the bath with her,it doesnt help my hands but she says it helps her.
so its worth a try.
i helped my hands by stopping smoking last year,and also using betnovate cream,and believe it or not canesten cream.(on my hands!) it has made a differance,it doesnt crack open as easily and isnt as iritated so i dont scratch it now.
happy bathing!

[noonesperfect]

both me and my sister have skin problems,i have dermatitis on my hands and she has exema,when she goes for a bath she puts oats into an old pair of tights and puts these in the bath with her,it doesnt help my hands but she says it helps her.
so its worth a try.
i helped my hands by stopping smoking last year,and also using betnovate cream,and believe it or not canesten cream.(on my hands!) it has made a differance,it doesnt crack open as easily and isnt as iritated so i dont scratch it now.
happy bathing!

Well done on giving up smoking goldspanners, it's the best thing you could've done for your health overall. As regards your hands, do avoid most handwashes as they have the dreaded sodium lauryl sulphate in (Palmolive liquid soap is ok). Neem soap (bar) is better and lasts well, I'm sure PrincessTaylor will bear me out there.

[Savvy_Sue]

If the canesten cream helped, it may be that you had a fungal infection there as well: it's always worth taking 'new' flare-ups to the GP.

[Jennikay]

I use Boots moisturising baby bath stuff :) (I'm far too old for it, but I dont care!)

I've used it for about 10 years, although I do have very mild eczema.
Costs about £2 for 500ml.

Have a warm bath, not a hot one, as this dries the skin less.

Also, if you put hydrocortisone (or whatever your GP has prescribed for your eczema, assuming they have prescribed something) on your 'problem areas' straight after a bath/shower, it soaks in far better, especially with the ointment (as opposed to the cream.)

Edit: I just read the back of the Boots stuff and it contains all sorts of weird stuff, including about 6 parabens, if that concerns you :cool: but it's always worked for me.

[CharleneUK]

My kiddies have eczema courtesy of me. While I enjoy a shower, they love baths, and we've found boots extra sensitive body wash (I think that's what it's called!) Is fantastic, and if you run it under the tap while filling up the bath, you get a slight bubble effect.

Forgot to add that their skin is silky smooth afterwards.

[ellerose]

That's disappointing to hear about Lsuh, I was just going to recommend their Dream Wash which has always worked for my littel brother.

[duchessedna]

I have allergy eczema particularly on my hands, and would have to vote for Lush products for washing and the odd long soak in the bath. I find the melt in the bath products, and soaps ( honey or coconut ) particularly good. Also Dermol is a life saver, can be used as a soap or moisturiser. Eucerin moisturiser is excellent, I think they also do bath products. I think it is trial and error finding out what suits you.

[kal25]

fyI, hALOS'N'hORNS INGREDIENTS...... (Sorry caps lock was on!)

This is from the kids zingy orange hair and body wash........ x

I use this on my little ones, DS1 has eczema that flares up in summer due to his grass allergy.U can also get a 'bubble' bath from their range too. I brought mine from the local health shop.

Aloe vera gel is supposed to be quite good,as it is cooling/ hydrating to the skin.

Originally Posted by PrincessTaylor http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/images/buttons/viewpost.gif (http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?p=7967075#post7967075)

After searching high and low we eventually started using organic cocoa butter and organic coconut oil on her skin. For soap we used African Black soap and sometimes shea butter & neem soap.

Thanks for this Princesstaylor. I have ordered some black african soap, should arrive next week. This is for myself as at the moment my eczema is terrible- just trying to find something that works. Will let u know how I get on but fingers crossed.;)

[amandada]

I get Oilatum shower gel on prescription and use this as/when to keep my ecxema at bay.

Be careful of E45 if you're sensitive to lanolin-I can't use it for this reason