Best Over The Counter Lotion for Psoriasis, Eczema, and Severely Chapped Hands
Written: Apr 07 '03
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Product Rating:
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Pros: works almost instantly;not greasy;great for severe skin conditions
Cons: pricey; I've been using it so much,my bottle's going to run out soon!
The Bottom Line: If you have "problem skin," such as ecezema, psoriasis, or chapping of frequently washed hands, this is the lotion for you.
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| kathleen6674's Full Review: Aveeno Skin Relief Moisturizing Lotion with Coolin... |
This is a great lotion - the best I've ever used - for controlling severe skin conditions such as psoriasis (what I have), eczema (which my uncle has - he suggested I use the Aveeno line, and he deserves many thanks), and chapped, cracked hands, such as if you have a job in the health care field that requires washing hands after nearly every procedure, as my mother does.
In my case, it didn't moisturize for 24 hours as it claimed it would do on the bottle - I keep it near me all day, and when I start to itch, I quickly slap some of this stuff on the afflicted area, and the tingly, cool menthol does its magic. But I do find myself using it again and again all day long. And nothing untoward has occured even though the bottle copy warns against using it more than 3-4 times a day. On my particularly Aveeno-bonanza days, the only problem I've had was lotion build-up, which evidenced itself in slower absorption into the skin and a thin, tacky film leftover - the itch-relieving properties remained. However, most people probably won't need to apply it that much.
It helped somewhat in the way my skin looks and feels. Plaque psoriasis consists of raised, red lesions covered by white, dead skin cell scale that itch like you wouldn't believe. When the Aveeno lotion is applied, the menthol seems to shock the itch into submission, at least for a little while. When it or any moisturizer/lotion is applied, the scales turn transparent, leaving the redness of the lesions visible, which both cures and causes a problem - I no longer look like a dandruff factory, but instead I look like a greasy burn victim. This lotion did make the scales transparent (and hence moisturized) for longer than any other lotion I'd tried save the Vaseline (ick!), it did NOT look or feel greasy. It absorbed almost immediately, leaving the "scale-free" skin free to apply the concealing body make-up I use (it is difficult to camoflauge flaky skin; a smooth surface is best).
Also, a few (but by no mean all or even most)of my lesions are starting to flatten, lighten in color to pink - and some are even starting to approach my natural skin color, which means those plaques are going into remission! This is partially because I actually remember to and do this regimen - just slap on some cool lotion whenever I need to from a convenient pump bottle. My doctor-approved methods involve coal tar, salcylic acid, a topical steroid, lots of Vaseline, and sleeping with a shower cap on after I'd coated my entire scalp with baby oil. This is much easier; this I can live with, although I haven't yet tried it on my scalp. I do suspect it would work there, too.
I love how easily it absorbs into my skin, how simple it is to apply while in the middle of doing something else - just pump 'n slap, with a little rub. And I most especially LOVE how it usually turns off the itch like a switch. And those of you with similar skin problems will know just how rare that is in a lotion.
And I actually love the slight menthol smell, too. Although it quickly fade once it's absorbed into my skin, I think the combination of oatmeal + menthol smells a lot like that kindergarden paste we used to use - the kind with the flat plastic applicator attached to the lid. Anything that reminds me of simpler days making valentines for my parents at age five can't be all bad.
The only thing I didn't especially care for was its price - $7.99 for the 12 ounce pump bottle at drugstore.com. But at this point, if they told me they were taking the stuff off the market, I'd start stockpiling the stuff in huge cases no matter what the price.
I recommend this product to anyone with a bad skin condition (and so does the manufacturer, with that reference to applying to "affected areas"), or whose line of work or degree of outdoor activity in winter gives them very chapped hands.
I wouldn't recommend this lotion to people with more normal skin, simply because there are a lot of lotions they can choose from, that don't contain medicines they don't need, at far cheaper prices. Unless you're a menthol junkie, in which case I'd tell you to go straight to the source at Vicks instead, you really have no reason to use this product.
I would also caution those with wheat allergies to stay away from this product, because it contains wheat germ protein.
In the sensitive-skin niche market for which it is intended, this is a fabulous product.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
kathleen6674
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Location: Philadelphia, PA
Reviews written: 7
Trusted by: 1 member
About Me:
"I have two selves, two kinds of power." - Louise Gluck
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