This review is what convinced me to try this. It is the first review under the smaller size (4.3 oz) so I'm quoting:
"
5.0 out of 5 starsHow we tackled our toddlers eczema
By RoyTech VINE VOICE on July 7, 2010
Size: 8 oz. Verified Purchase
Summary - This product works much better than Aquaphor for our 2.5 yr old toddlers eczema. Our child's doctor did not know about this product. If you or your child suffers from eczema, you should try the smaller tub first and determine if it works. The product has a really thick wax like consistency, but once rubbed on, seems to disappear into the skin. The moisturizer seems to last all night. It is also is highly recommended by the national eczema association. It is totally unlike Aquaphor which we used earlier and was ineffective if not downright harmful. We first apply Cetaphil cream, wait for it to be absorbed and then apply Theraplex emollient. Now the whole story...(Edit - 03-07-2012 - We now apply Theraplex emollient first, rub till it is absorbed and then apply Cetaphil).
Our toddler was first diagnosed with eczema around 2 years of age. The doctor suggested Aquaphor or Vaseline and said we need to really slather it on. We followed the doctors advice, putting on Aquaphor multiple times a day, and face to toe after a bath. A cortico-steroid was prescribed (Desonide)- if we used it, the symptoms went down, but seemed to come back with greater vengance when we stopped it.
The eczema just kept getting worse. It was on the fold of one arm and behind one knee. Then it went to both arms and both knees. Then there'd be skin infections. Itchy nights so that we'd be staying up trying to keep the poor toddler from scratching her skin off. It was just miserable and I really felt sad for our bright little one.
The turning point came when the child started having boils on the lower half of her body (Staph colonization of skin). Not just any boils - big pus filled ones. It was comical in a sad sort of way when the poor child hobbled for almost two weeks with a boil behind a knee. The doctors solution was to put her on antibiotics.
With antibiotics, the boils dried up for a while. But then started coming back again and we were eventually back to square one. At that point, rather than go back to the doc, started researching the web for information. I then realized how little non-specialist doctors really knew about eczema (at least the pediatricians who saw our toddler)
One of my findings from web research was that dilute bleach bath's were found to be helpful in certain cases of eczema (The doc never told us about this). Our toddler had eczema and had a staph colonization problem (causing all the boils). Even if the bleach bath did not work on the eczema, I thought that maybe - bleach would kill the staph - since they are on the skin surface and pretty much inaccessible by antibiotics. By the second bleach bath (one week later), no more new boils appeared. It was like a miracle!
[Bleach concentration used was slightly more than found in a swimming pool - about half a cup of fragrance free household Chlorox to 40 gallons of cool temp bath water with the child soaking in it for 10 minutes (approx final concentration of bleach used was 0.006% the first two times and then dropping to 0.004%)]. I dropped the bleach bath from twice a week to once a week after about 2 - 3 weeks and stopped it entirely when the child was enrolled in swim school. I also determined that it is very important to apply a moisturizer BEFORE the bleach bath.(we used vaseline earlier but have now settled on Olive Oil - works well). It is also very important to wash off the bleach thoroughly under a shower after the bleach bath. You should of course consult a doctor - not just any doctor but a specialist - regarding my suggestions, since every case is different.]
During our child's night-time itching episodes, we'd also determined that Aquaphor applications were not helpful. However, if we applied Cetaphil cream (not lotion - that is too weak), the child responded much much better. We also came to know about Theraplex emollient from our web research around the same time and ordered it. Nowadays, we first moisturise with Cetaphil cream, wait for the cream to be absorbed, and then apply Theraplex emollient on top. This combination works well for us.
In addition, we switched to a dye/perfume free clothes detergent, made small diet changes (cut off eggs - but that does not seem to be a cause - we are re-introducing eggs gradually) and the weather too changed from winter to summer (Edit 03-07-2012 Diet changes made no difference). The soap we used changed from Aveeno to Vanicream. With so many changes, I cannot definitely point to one factor - but our child's eczema has disappeared from one arm and one leg, barely perceptible on the second arm and kind of there behind the knee on one leg as a darker patch of skin. However, the skin everywhere is smooth and not scaly. She rarely itches and I'm not even sure if this is due to eczema or just a normal occasional itch (we are paranoid on this front).
I hope my long write-up will assist at least a few parents tackling the eczema nightmare.
Incidentally, we tried other creams - Cerave and a pricey Aveeno with Ceramides - but its the Cetaphil Cream/Theraplex Emollient combination that worked best for our toddler. Cetaphil apparently contains Almond oil - so it may not be for those who are allergic to almonds. (Edit - 03-07-2012 - Allergies are generally not caused by oils, but by proteins and poly-saccharides in nuts. I doubt almond oil will be allergic - except in rare cases).
Edit - 03-07-2012. We also used Theraplex on our month old baby to tackle severe rash like symptoms in the diaper area. The redness it later turned out was caused by "California Baby Supersenstive Body Wash and Shampoo". Read my post in comment section if you want details.
26 Comments 85 people found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you?
Yes
No
Report abuse
~Have a Kind Heart, Fierce Mind, Brave Spirit~
Blogs & Forums
Forums
Blogs
