Cream For Eczema
Many people want to know if there is one cream for eczema that works for everyone. The truth is that there are many different options available that have different properties and that work in different ways. You need to know first, however, that we are talking about creams and not lotions. Lotions contain fair amounts of alcohol and, while it settles the dryness on a temporary basis, the alcohol in the lotion is ultimately drying to the skin. Most creams for eczema, including ointments, contain no alcohol and actually dry the skin in the end.
Herbal cream for eczema comes in different varieties. You can use aloe vera gel that relieves the inflammation and does some good healing of the condition. Calendula cream is soothing to the skin and takes away the redness of the skin. Marshmallow root cream helps to protect the skin and prevents localized infection. Witch hazel cream also works well to relieve the inflammation.
There are a few non-steroidal creams available on the market for eczema. One of them is called TriCeram cream, which contains ceramides. It’s been discovered that ceramides are lacking in the skin of children with eczema. Ceramides provide the function of being a barrier to the skin to protect it from infection. You also need to have natural lipids to protect the skin and this is the basis behind TriCeram. It contains the skin three most dominant epidermal lipids, with the dominant one being ceramide. It soothes the eczema and reduces the skin dryness. It helps the skin return to its normal protected state without using steroids. It is safe to use for the long haul and is safe for children and babies to use.
Another option is antihistamine cream. This is primarily in the form of diphenhydramine cream that is applied to the affected areas to reduce the amount of perceptible itching. You can take antihistamines orally or by injection but they make you very tired and topical antihistamines do not. Diphenhydramine cream can come as Benadryl® cream over the counter.
You can also buy over the counter hydrocortisone cream for eczema. These are creams that are mild enough to be used on sensitive skin and on the face. They can be used up to three times a day to settle the inflammation of the eczema and can actually cure it. You’ll need to follow the eczema care rules and don’t make the condition worse with harsh soaps or hot water baths. You shouldn’t use any hydrocortisone cream indefinitely as these can thin the skin and ultimately do damage to it.
If you see a doctor, you might get a stronger corticosteroid cream. One of these is Diprolene cream. It is used for tough cases of eczema and gets deeper in the skin, protecting the skin from inflammation and allowing healing of the skin.
Stronger fluorinated corticosteroid creams can be prescribed but they must be used for a limited period of time as they can cause skin and muscle atrophy if used for months on end.
