I use Diprobase on my little daughter. Any other good creams out there?

I am now talking to myself

Hi Hannah...apart from the problem of talking to yourself (!), I would suggest you try not to use Diprobase, especially on a child. I know it does help, but this is because it is a barrier cream made from petroleum by-products. It works by putting a layer of mineral-oil based cream on the skin to keep it from getting dry. However, eventually as the mineral oil is itself drying, it will start to draw moisture from the skin and makes the problem worse. Also, because mineral oil is not absorbable by the skin (hence it forms the barrier), it will clog the skin and not allow it oxygen to breathe. My advice would be to use a non-petroleum industry based cream (and they pretty much all are, I'm afraid) so the skin can breathe. Remember, if you put a toxic cream (full of chemicals) onto the skin, it will only have to come back out again!

It can be a bit trial and error, but my patients are either given Green People's Organic Base with extra evening primrose oil added for richness or NHR's excellent lavender lotion as a moisturiser. The best treatment I have ever found for it, is a mix of concentrated aloe gel (not ones that have parabens in!) and organic evening primrose oil. This feeds the skin, is anti-itch and anti-inflammatory and usually works a treat. I hope that helps.

Hi Micki -
My niece (aged 2) has really bad eczema and her mum is told to keep covering her all day with 'emollient' creams which do not really seem to help much and make the most horrible mess.
Could you use the combination of aloe gel and evening primrose oil that you suggest instead of the emollient?

Hi Frances,

Sorry to hear about your niece. Yes, there's no reason you can't use the aloe/EPO mix on her skin, but remember that is a treatment not an emollient cream so you may be better off using a lotion as I mentioned to moisturise the skin and the mix more sparingly as you would have to use a lot of it to cover her. As her skin improves, just use the mix on any cracked or red bits. If it doesn't clear, she has an allergy which is keeping it going, in which case you need some professional help. Hope it solves it for her - let us know.

Hi Micki -
Thanks so much for the advice - I'll tell my sister and ket you know how we get on.
Take care - Frances

Hi Micki -
My sister did try out your cream suggestion on my niece and it certainly does seem to have helped even though she still has quite a lot of red patches and still gets pretty itchy. But she is definitely better than she was.
My sister heard of some trial that was going on about soft water. Apparently hard water is particularly bad for people with problem skin and eczema. Do you know anything about it?

I'm so glad she's improving. I would add that it often takes time, and to be careful you're not using an aloe gel with parabens in it or of rubbish quality. The only one I've seen work truly well is the Higher Nature aloe gold gel which is far stronger and less toxic than others. Re the water question, I haven't heard that, but I suppose hard water is higher in minerals, good and bad, so that may be a factor. Too harsh for the skin maybe. I advise patients most often to fit a whole house filter so the water they're showering and bathing in, washing clothes in etc is all filtered. Makes a huge difference in many cases. Good luck.

Hi Micki

Thank you so much for your advice. Apologies for not replying before, but since posting my original question, I've had another little baby and she's been keeping me rather busy!!

I read your article in this month's Food Matter and I've tried the Weleda Baby calendula cream, but unfortunately Grace's eczema has got worse since using it and she now complains it stings when I apply it.

I definitely don't want to go back to Diprobase, having seen what you have to say about it, so I'll try one of your other recommendations.

Thanks v much and I'll let you know how we get on!

Hi I use creams from a site called the honey doctor and have found these work wonders on my dry skin complaint which helps everything no end as mine also turns into Eczema

thanks sandra