There's a first time for everything and the other day was my first time getting stung by a bee. After nearly 48 years of blissful ignorance about how bee stings feel, I got dive bombed by a nasty honey bee and stung twice on my calf. After the pain subsided, the itching started. It was maddening. I had some anti itch cream at home but it wasn't helping. My husband brought me a little sample packet of Cortizone 10 Maximum Strength Hydrocortisone Anti Itch Creme Plus Aloe Plus Aloe that he got at work when he was stung by a bee and needed relief earlier this summer. It worked great. I bought a 2 ounce tube and used it every few hours to stop the stinging and itching.

About the Product

The manufacturer says that this cream will temporarily relieve "itching associated with minor skin irritations, inflammation and rashes due to: eczema, psoriasis, poison ivy, oak, sumac, insect bites, detergents, jewelry, cosmetics, soaps and seborrheic dermatitis." It also mentions that the cream will "temporarily relieve external anal and genital itching." 

Packaging

Cortizone 10 Maximum Strength Hydrocortisone Anti Itch Creme Plus Aloe Plus Aloe comes in a red and white box and the 2 ounce tube is also red and white. It has a simple screw off cap and the cream is white with very little scent. I really don't smell anything when I apply it. It isn't greasy or sticky.

My Experience

After I realized I was stung by a bee, the pain was the first thing I felt. It was very unpleasant and lasted for a few hours. When that settled down, the itching and soreness began. The area on my calf was swollen and red and itched like crazy. If I scratched it though, it hurt.

I tried the brand of anti itch cream I have at home and it didn't do much. Although it too contains 1% Hydrocortisone, for some reason the soreness and itching weren't settling down.

When my husband presented me with a one use packet of Cortizone 10 Maximum Strength Hydrocortisone Anti Itch Creme Plus Aloe Plus Aloe, I was skeptical. it was the same stuff I had been using it seemed. I did try to though and, to my surprise, the area was almost immediately soothed. The burning and stinging were almost gone. The itching took a while to settle down but it did settle down. I didn't have that urge to rip myself apart scratching. I tend to really get aggravated when I get a rash or anything that causes me to itch. I have scratched myself bloody without even realizing it because I can't stand to NOT try to stop that itchy feeling.

Thankfully, I didn't end up scratching my leg to any extreme. This cream went on smoothly, absorbed quickly, and almost immediately worked to soothe and cool the area. After a few short minutes, the itchiness was almost gone and I was able to go about my business. I did have to reapply every few hours and the tube says that adults should only use the cream three to four times a day. I used it more like five or six times a day.

As the sting heals, I am now just using this cream twice a day. I am so glad that I was able to find a product that both soothed and calmed the itching before I ended up driving myself crazy scratching the area. I have a scar on my throat from doing just that when I had a an allergic reaction to a product I used. I scratched myself in my sleep and caused a whole slew of issues that shouldn't have even happened.

This cream is amazing and I won't be without it now. It works. I know most anti itch creams contain the same active ingredient but it must be the aloe vera gel that puts this one at the top of its class. Something about it works better than other brands!

Ingredients

For those who need to know what is in this cream, this is a list of the current ingredients. They are always subject to change at any time so please consult the packaging for the most updated information.

Active Ingredients: Hydrocortisone (1%) (Anti-Itch)
Inactive Ingredients: Aloe Vera (Aloe Barbadensis) Leaf Juice, Aluminum Sulfate, Beeswax (Apis Mellifera), Calcium Acetate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cholecalciferol (Vitamin D3), Dextrin, Glycerin, Isopropyl Palmitate, Maltodextrin, Methylparaben, Mineral Oil (Paraffinum Liquidum), Petrolatum, Propylene Glycol, Propylparaben, Retinyl Acetate (Vitamin A), Sodium Cetearyl Stearate, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E), Water, Zea Mays (Corn) Oil (Corn)

Buying Info

You can purchasee this cream at drugstores and mass-market stores on and  offline. The price varies but is about $8.00 a tube. That is a bit pricier than the brand I had previously but the results are worth it.

The Verdict

If you have a rash, bug bite, or any other minor issue (as compared to something where you should see a medical professional), Cortizone 10 Plus Hydrocortisone Anti-Itch Creme, Maximum Strength with Aloe is a great product to help relieve the itch and sting plus soothe the area with aloe vera. It really does work to calm the itch. I don't know what I would have done without it these past few days. It kept me from scratching myself raw which could have led to an infection. I give this stuff 5 stars plus. It's very effective!

Recommended: Yes