Another Awuaphor user here. Also, just started using weleda skin food. I generally really like weleda roducts.

My 12 month old daughter had patches of eczema and her skin was very dry. Applied Mustela baby lotion but it did not do the trick. We were using Mustela dermo-cleansing lotion. None of the Mustela products have alcohol or additives. The pediatrician advised that we bathe her in 2-3 capfuls of baby oil in water for her bath, and use Aquaphor. It is very much improved! I would try that.

I swear by the Babyganics eczema cream. The tube is green and white and they sell it at Target, Amazon and Buy Buy Baby (and other places I'm sure, but that's just where I've bought it). Cleared up my baby's skin and now I put it on her bum every night, and on any rough patches of skin, including her face. She's 18 months now, and we've been using it for about a year. I actually just got it because I'd tried so many lotions and creams with only mixed success, but this had "eczema" in the name, so it HAS to work, right??? And it did!

eczema as an adult who also had it as a child. My eczema is pretty well controlled now but I get it behind my ears, beside my nose (gawd, that's the worst!) and inside my ears, which is every bit the horror you might imagine it to be. I had it beat recently until I moved to a different part of DC and our water was treated more aggressively with chlorine and chloramine - two huge culprits for causing eczema. Ironically, bleach solution baths can also help to TREAT eczema in some kids. It's an allergic type reaction exacerbated by dry air, chemicals, and bacteria. Adult and baby eczema is also different. My own eczema does not change if I eliminate dairy or soy or eggs, but for many children the difference is day and night (particularly with dairy, if you manage a complete and long term elimination). Still, elimination diets often help alleviate without providing full relief. Our water in DC and probably in the surrounding is an issue for me, as i mentioned. They sell de-chlorination filters that might help if the water is adding to the problems.

Oops, before I forget to answer your question: my eczema responds to different things at different times, depending on what's going on. If it's in the early stages (no flakes, just itchy redness) aquafor does the trick. If I get it get to the point of flakes, I need to use a steroid cream (drops go in my ear - I use fluocinolone on the ears and over the counter cortaid around my nose). The itching behind my ears nearly always responds to aquafor, but again, if I let it get to flaking (or cracking, it tends to crack back there rather than flake) I use some cortisone cream.

I've heard that steroid creams can thin the skin, but my regimen is okay'd by my dermatologist. She has prescribed things for me before, but nothing has worked as well as aquafor.

I'm a crunchy type and hate to use a petroleum based thing, but after a lot of trial and error, it's what works.

Best of luck to you. Many, many, many kids outgrow this. I hope yours does!

Aquaphor at least twice daily and a tiny bit of cortizone 10 once per day for any rough patches.

Aquaphor

I second Cerave. Vanicream is effective but it's a little too thick.

I've had eczema my whole life. As a kid, it was pretty severe. I have always hated Eucerin products and never understood why pediatricians swear by them. So I'm with your son on that one.

Brands I like:
CeraVe (cream, the lotion is too light)
Cortisone 10 makes an eczema cream in a red tube
Moisturel cream or lotion
Babyganics makes a good eczema cream
Vanicream is really thick - good for very cold weather

For me, Aquaphor has never been great for an eczema rash, but I've used it on DS's dry skin and it's worked well for that.

Of all of these, I'd say Aquaphor and Vanicream are least likely to sting, which I imagine is what your son means when he says it hurts.

Oh, just remembered - in a pinch, I used to use A&D ointment on eczema flare ups and it's pretty effective - it just reeks.

Good luck!

vanicream or aquaphor - beware the aveeno's - a lot of them have alcohol in their ingredient list. super drying.

Sorry for the double post. Stupid internet.

Don't use lotion, use cream always because lotion isn't as thick and won't do the job. I used Cerave when my daughter was younger but now use Vanicream. If it is really bad, I use a prescription from the doctor. First the Pediatrician gave us Dermasoothe, which was really great, but now we have another lotion from the Dermatologist that doesn't have any side effects (Dermasoothe doesn't really but you can not continually use it....plus you can't use it as much on the face). Anyway, try to put some type of ointment under the lotion. I used Egyptian Magic from Whole Foods. It was $27/jar but totally worth it at the time because it also worked for her cradle cap....but you can try any ointment like Aquaphor. Put the ointment and then the cream on top of it.

We have tried them all, and the only thing that has worked is the Aquaphor that comes in the tub. I think it is called Advanced Healing. It is like Vaseline but it works and my toddler doesn't scream when I apply it, which I do at least 2x per day. I also mix in cortisone every few days.

Don't use lotion, use cream always because lotion isn't as thick and won't do the job. I used Cerave when my daughter was younger but now use Vanicream. If it is really bad, I use a prescription from the doctor. First the Pediatrician gave us Dermasoothe, which was really great, but now we have another lotion from the Dermatologist that doesn't have any side effects (Dermasoothe doesn't really but you can not continually use it....plus you can't use it as much on the face). Anyway, try to put some type of ointment under the lotion. I used Egyptian Magic from Whole Foods. It was $27/jar but totally worth it at the time because it also worked for her cradle cap....but you can try any ointment like Aquaphor. Put the ointment and then the cream on top of it.

Vanicream bought off of Amazon.

what type of lotion or cream do you use on a regular/daily basis (i.e., not prescription)? My son has eczema on his face and ears - two sensitive areas that are even more sensitive as a result. We tried Eucerin Calming lotion but my son screamed when I applied it. We were using Aveeno Baby Eczema Therapy Moisturizing cream but my almost 3 yr old refuses to let us put it on now insisting that it hurts. Thanks for your help!