I've experimented with a number of moisturizers as I've worked to get my eczema under control - the only cream that I use is exederm (check out their website - www.exederm.com) it is free of the known irritants in creams (parabens, lanolin, other preservatives).

In addition to the exederm, I also use Vaseline on drier patches. Some people have a problem with Vaseline, but I have found that it is the only ointment that doesn't irritate my skin. Many of these other products have ingredients that my skin simply can't tolerate without breaking out.

Just my two cents. Good luck!

Aquaphor is a great product for external use in winter months and it is free of all fragrance. A large jar is about $15 but it lasts a very long time so in that it makes it economical. I also wonder if you have considered taking cod liver oil, not only is it good for your blood vessels and heart it helps me alot with maintaining moisture in my skin especially in the winter months. Using cold pressed oils in your cooking will also make a difference in the skin mantle balance of your skin. I often use pure olive oil as a moisture product after showers, it is a cheap fix too!

I use and have been instructed by my dermatologist to use Eucerin. It costs about $10 and lasts quite awhile. You are to apply after damping your skin or after bath/shower and a quick pat dry, then apply while still damp. They say you have 3 minutes to apply before shin is too dry and it won't work as well. This may need to be repeated several times a day depending on severity. Hope this helps

i have very dry skin and i use nutragena,eurcerin,oatmeal lotions like aveeno,but my problem is my hands hurt all the time it makkes it hard to care for my kids if i got that and the dryness under control i think i would be ok

ReNew lotion is actually clinically proven to be THE BEST. There are even tests that show it's better than Eucerin! It does wonders!
If you email me your email address, I can send you a brochure on it.

Hello,

I signed up for the support group when i saw your message. I have been suffering with eczema and dry skin for my who life. My skin is so dry, cracky and flaky year around. I thought i had found the perfect regime Lubiderm 50 times a day(exaggeration of course)during the summer and coco butter and eucerin cream mixed together during the winter. Well this winter i had and itch/buring sensation on the backs of my legs. The skin was cracking and splitting and my regime wasn't working. SO i thought i'd try something new, the New Eucerin Plus Smoothing Essentials lotions. I rubbed it on the back of my legs and i felt immediate relief. My legs were shiny (not greasy, but not the normal dull and it last all day and all night. I thought it might be too good to be true, so i would check through out the day to see if the flacks or dullness had returned and they didn't. I've been using the lotion for about 3 months now and it has completely changed the texture of my skin.. it might not look like a normal persons, but it sure does feel like it and that's extremely important to me. Good luck, i hope this helps.

2 more suggestions have occurred to me: 1) consider getting omega 3 fatty acids in your diet. An excellent source is flax seed oil. I used to do cod liver oil, but it hasn't been as affective as the flax seed oil. Also, I was concerned about heavy metals in fish oils - as a woman who may have a baby someday that's a BIG issue.
2) consider using a bath oil! Using oil can help keep moisture in the skin rather than desperately trying to keep it in after your shower/bath.

hemp lotion from the body shop it works really well for me

ok i just realize i said the incorrect lotion. there are two new lotions from Eucering both with teal caps one is alright the other one is a miracle worker. The miricale worker is Eucerin Plus Intensive Repair

Sorry i realize my mistake when i bought went to the store myself and bought the wrong bottle. one the lotion comes out the bottle i immediately knew i made a mistake.

good luck

Avoid anything with a scent. Cetaphil in the tub is wonderful. Expensive, $11 or $12 but it goes a long ways. My dermatologist just recommended Vanicream. The Vanicream also comes in a tub and also runs about $11 or $12. I use it all over and it's lasted about two months now. The Mayo Clinic uses it for compounding their Triaminicolone cream. It's thick and very protective. I also found that a bottle of Vitamin E oil, smoothed on to the affected areas immediately upon getting out of the tub or shower helps with the itching for a number of hours. All of the other products like Aveeno, Eucerin, etc., were useless to me.

The best advice I was given by various dermatologists for dry skin and the eczema was to apply the Cetaphil or Vanicream immediately upon getting out of the shower. Barely pat yourself dry and put on your moisturizing cream. They say you have about three minutes after getting out of the tub or shower where your pores stay open and the cream is absorbed. Otherwise, it just floats on top of the skin.

eucerin very helpful

What works for me? Look for lotions/creams with dimethicone as one of the main ingredients. It's a silicone-based ingredient that acts as a barrier. It's not greasy, it doesn't trap heat (like petroleum), and it doesn't smell. I like GoldBond brand creams. The Shea Butter (gold label) and Aloe (blue) varieties are best. Some of the other types are less creamy.

DO NOT USE ANYTHING COMING OUT OF A PUMP. It only dries the skin more. Aquaphor is the best thing to get :)