Decided to do a review on the eczema creams I have tried for baby A as it was really heartbreaking seeing him scratch and suffer in pain. Hope this review will be useful for anyone battling with eczema.
- Lush Dream Cream
“Light, cooling and easily absorbed into the skin, the combination of calming chamomile, organic, extra virgin olive oil and creamy, Fair Trade, organic cocoa butter quickly soothes and softens.”
https://sg.lush.com/products/dream-cream
I decided to try this out as after reading the viral post. Did a quick google and found that this has received so many good reviews from those with eczema.
I got the self-preserving version as I wanted less chemicals for my baby. The cream feels greasy but absorbs rather quickly on the skin. Hence it leaves only a slight sticky feeling. It is not viscous or watery but the consistency is like a smooth whipped cream. Though not watery, it will flow out and make a mess when the tub topples. It is value for money as I just need a little amount to apply for the whole body.
I really like the strong smell of rose water, lavender essential oil and oats which is rather relaxing.
The downside? The tub container is not hygienic nor travel friendly. I also didn’t like how the tub is all greasy since I use the same hands to close the tub after applying on my LO’s body. I’ve now transferred the cream into a pump bottle.
So does it really stop eczema flare up? Sadly, it did not prevent my baby’s severe flare up but it is a very good daily moisturiser as I noticed that my baby’s skin became more dry and patchy after I stopped using this.
Would I repurchase? Likely as a daily moisturiser since it is value for money and keeps my baby’s skin moist.
| Ingredients: “Oat Milk, Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Rose Water, Glycerine, Fair-trade Organic Cocoa Butter, Stearic Acid, Triethanolamine, Rose Absolute, Chamomile Blue Oil, Tea Tree Oil, Lavender Oil, Tincture of Benzoin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Benzyl Alcohol, *Benzyl Benzoate, *Citronellol, *Geraniol, *Limonene, *Linalool, Perfume. *Occurs naturally in essential oils” |
2. Ceradan Skin Barrier Repair Cream
“Backed by research which shows that skin’s ceramide is reduced by 30% to 50% in atopic dermatitis, Ceradan Skin Barrier Repair Cream is a hypoallergenic moisturiser which has a ceramide-dominant formula to replenish ceramide and strengthen skin barrier in eczema-prone skin. It uses a 3:1:1 ratio of intercellular physiological lipids such as ceramide, cholesterol and free fatty acids for optimal hydration and reparation in dry and sensitive skin.”
http://www.ceradan311.com/product/atopic-dermatitis/
I have seen two different PDs when my baby has severe flare ups and both prescribed Ceradan. Ceradan works wonder for both times and managed to calm the angry skin. He did not have any flare up afterwards and the dry flaky skin became soft and well moisturised.
Ceradan is very thick but it is not greasy and absorbs on skin very well. I don’t feel any stickiness but when I wash my hands after applying Ceradan on his body, it takes me lots of water and soap to get the creamy texture off my hands. I believe that this is good as it forms a protective skin barrier. It is also fragrant-free and paraben-free.
Wow, this seems the perfect cream for his eczema! The drawback? It is the priciest eczema cream among all the creams I have tried so far. That said, since the cream is very thick, I just need to use a little amount to cover his entire body. Another negative point is that the cream is not easily available in supermarket or department stores.
Would I repurchase? Definitely a yes for flare ups since it is the most effective cream so far.
| Ingredients: Water, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Butylene Glycol, Cyclopentasiloxane, Behenyl Alcohol, Hydroxypropyl Bispalmitamide MEA (Ceramide), Cetyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, PEG-60 Glyceryl Isostearate, Glyceryl Stearate, Linoleic Acid, Cholesterol, Pentylene Glycol, Beeswax, Squalane, Trideceth-12, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Sorbitan Stearate, Dimethicone, PEG-6, PEG-32, Phenoxyethanol, Carbomer, Xanthan Gum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tocopherol, Sodium Hydroxide. |
3. Aveeno Baby Dermexa Cream
“Formulated with naturally active Triple Oat Complex plus ceramides, this unique lotion works to soothe your baby’s dry, itchy skin, and is clinically proven suitable for eczema prone skin.”
https://www.aveeno.com.sg/baby-products/for-eczema-skin/aveeno-baby-dermexa-moisturizing-cream
I decided to give it a try as I read that oats is a good natural remedy for dry skin.
I cannot really say how effective this is when it comes to tackling very angry red rashes as my baby did not have another severe flare up (touch wood!) However, I did use it when he had minor heat rash and it was able to clear the rashes and kept the skin well moisturised.
I really like the consistency as it is not greasy and absorbs quickly into the skin, leaving the skin feeling soft and smooth (though a little sticky). I tried all the creams on my own skin and this is the best in terms of texture. It made my skin feel really soft and easy to wash off. This is the cream I enjoyed most putting on my baby’s body so far.
The smell of the cream is pleasant with a slight oatmeal smell.
Would I repurchase? Very likely since it is relatively effective but cheaper than Ceradan.
| Ingredients: Water, Glycerin, Panthenol, Distearyldimonium Chloride, Petrolatum, Isopropyl Palmitate, Cetyl Alcohol, Dimethicone, Avena Sativa (Oat) Kernel Flour, Avena Sativa (Oat) Kernel Oil, Steareth-20, Benzalkonium Chloride, Ceramide NP, Sodium Chloride, Potassium Sorbate, Avena Sativa (Oat) Kernel Extract. |
4. Cetaphil Baby Daily Lotion (not the Eczema range)
“This gentle baby lotion is designed to soothe and nourish, while moisturizing and protecting your baby’s skin from dryness. It is specially formulated with soothing organic calendula extract, derived from the marigold flower and used for centuries to soothe dry, sensitive skin.”
https://www.cetaphil.com/baby-lotion/
I got this free together with Cetaphil body wash. This is not the eczema series but I thought of giving it a try.
The first drop I squeezed out from the bottle, I hated it. I hated the smell and the texture. It has a strong chemical fragrant smell and the texture is very runny yet leaves stickiness feeling on my hands.
That said, I have no chance to try it on very angry red rashes so I cannot say much on its effectiveness and it is also unfair to review on eczema skin since it is just a normal daily lotion.
Would I repurchase? Definitely no since I do not like the added fragrant. I want as little chemicals on my baby as possible.
| Ingredients: Water, Sorbitol, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Isopropyl Palmitate, Octyldodecanol, Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate, Glycerin, Panthenol (Vitamin B5), Hexyldecanol, Hexyldecyl Laurate, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil, Caprylyl Glycol, Carbomer, Fragrance, Disodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Sodium Hydroxide, Dipropylene Glycol, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Squalane, Propylene Glycol, Glyceryl Caprylate, Heliotropine, Tocopherol (Vitamin E), Glycine Soja (Soybean) Oil |
5. Physiogel AI Body Lotion
Clinically proven to strengthen and repair the skin’s moisture barrier
https://www.physiogel.com/sg/our-products/calming-relief/cr-ai-body-lotion.html
Makes skin less sensitive
Hypoallergenic, non-comedogenic
Free from preservatives, perfumes and colourants
Many mummies recommend this for their eczema baby so decided to give it a try.
The texture is very runny and thin so I need to apply quite a lot for the body. It absorbs well with no sticky feeling and does not have any fragrant. I find that the lotion is not rich enough to provide adequate moisture for my baby’s skin. Due to the hot weather, baby A keeps scratching his neck and this lotion does not seem to calm or soothe his itchiness. The area remains dry and patchy.
I really like the pump bottle though, it is super convenient especially during diaper changing. The fluid texture also allows me to apply on baby easily.
Would I repurchase? I’m sitting on the fence because the pump bottle is really convenient to use especially now diaper changing is a struggle. Good as a maintenance lotion but not so for angry eczema skin.
| Ingredients: Aqua, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Pentylene Glycol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Palmitamide MEA, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Caprylyl Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Betaine, Squalane, Sarcosine, Acetamide MEA, Carbomer, Sodium Carbomer, Ceramide 3. |
| Lush | Ceradan | Aveeno | Cetaphil | Physiogel | |
| Effectiveness | 4/5 | 5/5 | 4/5 | 2/5 | 3/5 |
| User-friendly | 2/5 | 4/5 | 4/5 | 3/5 | 5/5 |
| Price | s$50 for 240g S$0.21/g | S$65.90 for 150g S$0.44/g | S$16.90 for 141g S$0.12/g | S$24.90 for 400g S$0.06/g | S$89.90 for 400ml S$0.22/ml |
| Overall | 4/5 | 5/5 | 4/5 | 2/5 | 4/5 |
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