E45 Itch Relief Cream

Anyone who suffers from eczema will know how itchy it can get. I have really bad eczema on my foot...it's been there about four years now, and every time I get rid of it, it comes back. I know I shouldn't scratch it as that makes it worse, but sometimes I can't resist!

It was my boyfriend who suggested I get the E45 anti-itch cream. I wasn't keen really as although I've used E45 products in the past (I actually won loads in a competition a few years back), on the whole I don't really find the brand helps my eczema very much. I relented though as I knew I was getting on his nerves with my constant scratching.

~About E45~

E45 are a brand that are especially formulated for dry skin and the conditions that often come with it, such as eczema. They have 50 years of experience in skincare, and have a huge range of products from creams to bath oils and lip balm.

~About the anti-itch cream~

The product claims to treat and soothe the itching caused by eczema, dermatitis, pruritus and other dry skin conditions. The ingredient that stops the itching is lauromacrogols, which is a new one on me! It is perfume free, allergy screened and dermatologically tested.

E45 also say it is non-greasy, moisturising and quickly absorbed. It can be used by both adults and children and also specifies it's suitable for the elderly, which I thought was strange. Are there certain products you can't use once you're deemed to be old?

~Packaging~

The product is available in both a bottle and a tube. I have the 50g tube, which comes in a white and blue box, which contains all information that could be needed. It's very basic and quite clinical but I would expect that from this sort of product.

The tube is metal and the screw top lid has a point so that it can be used to break the seal on the tube. I've found the tube durable and the metal hasn't split at the edges, which is something that happens regularly with my prescription steroid creams.

~My experience~

The cream is a glossy white and doesn't really have any noticeable scent to it. The cream looks quite thick when it comes out of the tube, but I find that only a small amount is needed per use, as it spreads out well.

The cream feels quite light on the skin and when I rub it in I find that it always feels just slightly greasy. As long as you're not too over-generous with the amount you apply I find that it won't take long to sink in. It does leave a very slight residue on the skin, which feels a little bit greasy but not particularly uncomfortable.

The immediate effect the cream has is to moisturise the skin. I find this alone makes my skin feel more comfortable, as it relieves the tightness that makes it itch. I also think it feels quite cooling on the skin which is also seems to help.

When I began using this I didn't really expect it to stop me from itching if I'm totally honest, however I have been surprised at how well it actually works. It makes the skin feel much more comfortable, so the majority of the time I don't even feel the need to scratch. I won't lie, it doesn't stop me from itching completely, but I would say there is a 90% improvement when I apply this cream.

Using this cream has resulted in my eczema healing much quicker than normal, as it now rarely bleeds when I scratch it. It says that this should be applied twice a day, but on occasions I have applied more often. It's great to apply before bed as I used to scratch my foot in my sleep and wake up with blood under my nails (yuk), but now that's becoming a much less frequent occurance.

~Warnings~

As with any health product it comes with warnings but most are just common sense:

• This can't be used on broken skin or skin that is oozing or infected
• You should not apply to breasts immediately prior to breast feeding
• External use only
• Do not use if you are allergic to any of the ingredients

Possible side effects are a burning sensation, redness, itching (!?!?) or pus. Thankfully I haven't experienced any side effects.

~Price~

I bought the 50g tube, but this can also be bought in a 100g or 500g size. I bought mine from Bodycare where it cost about £2.50. The following prices were found online, unfortunately all from different places as I couldn't find one place that stocked all three sizes.

50g - £3.62 - ASDA
100g - £4.89 -Chemist Direct
500g - £23.99 - Total Pharmacy

~Summary~

Although I started using this with low expectations, I have been very impressed by the product. Whilst it's not a complete cure, I found it worked extremely well on my eczema and it's a product I would recommend and continue to buy.