Cheaper alternatives for eczema

Citygirl1

I suffer from eczema and sensitive skin. I can't do without E45 cream on my hands and body but I always used to use the E45 or Oilatium bath oil and the E45 wash cream (at about a fiver or more each). A friend of mine swears by tea tree and he recently gave me a bottle of Original Source Tea Tree and Mint shower gel. I told him I can't use ordinary shower gels but he just urged me to try it. So far it seems OK. I put a bit of it in the bath and then wash myself with it on a sponge either in the bath or shower and use my E45 cream afterwards. This costs between £1 and £2 and replaces the need for the bath oil and cream wash. Has anyone else tried this, just an idea?

MarsdenCuckoo

Haven't actually tried what you mention but I used to suffer from psoriasis ('same but different' :cool:) and found that Avon's Skin So Soft Bath Oil helped. The dry body oil is not 'oily' enough but the bath oil either in the bath or applied directly to skin helped me. (The 'original' or 'soft and fresh' is the one that can also help repelling insects too so deffo worth trying in Summer when your skin is even dryer.)

jenniewb

I still haven't found anything to better Eurax, not the cheapest thing available but it works better then anything else (or even works full stop- nothing else seems to). Eurax varies from around £2.50 for 30mls to £7.99 for 100mls but different stores have different prices, Sainsburys has the best prices, £5.20 for 100mls.

Other options are to try different washing poweder (non biological or for sensitive skin like suncare), cutting out dairy to see if it makes any difference, changing what you wash with as some sulfates in products and some perfumes can cause reactions and trying to reduce your stress levels.

Careful_with_that_Axe

What about generic emolient cream, from Tescos? It's less than £2 for a huge pot and can be used for washing and moistuising. I can't say it smells nice but it does work.

Griizelda

What about Shea butter (the pure version - there is a thread about this and it's worth a look). DS3 has mild eczema and the Shea has cleared it up really quickly. Shea can be used in the bath and as a moisturiser (I have sensitive skin and it's brilliant).

pinkfizz77

Dream cream from Lush (especially teamed with dreamwash), I don't suffer with eczema but know friends who have and this stuff has worked really well for them, if you have a store local, nip in and they can chat with you and give you a sample of each to see how it suits before buying it (or message me and I can send you a sample of each)

GreenSheep

I'm basicly cured of eczema now but still only shower in aqueous cream.
Very cheap... can often find a massive tub in the supermarket for 99p. Although I actually prefer the Boots one which I think is just over £2.

Keep trying different things (diet, exercise, fabrics, anything and everything) until you find what is causing yours.
I know many people will often tell you/you'll read they have the worst ever eczema - but I really did. Really, really, really bad. I don't think I slept for more than 7 hours a week for many years, depressed, sore, upset, anti-social, bleeding constantly, ashamed...
Then I started trying different things, found what was causing mine, cut it out, changed habits, didn't follow doctors advice, I actually got told today on how nice my skin is! And that's comparing to a 'normal' person, not how I used to be!

I think the cause is different for everyone; but don't give up.

Savvy_Sue

National Eczema Society may be a useful source of information.

debs2327

hi ya dont know if it`ll help but my daughter has excema all over it has flared up this yr for some reason she uses coal tar soap and it helps keep it down she has the ointment from docs incase it gets bad but she decided not to use any creams a few yrs bk as she said they were making it worse , so thats when she was told about coal tar soap

http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-coal-tar-soap.htm
( tells you about it )