Theraplex Healing Emollient - Long Lasting Skin Barrier Protection for Severe Dry Skin, No Parabens or Preservatives, Noncomedogenic and Hypoallergenic, Dermatologist recommended (8 oz)

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.

Amazing product. I've had severe eczema for 8+ years (tend to scratch and my scratched skin immediately breaks out and becomes even more itchy). I compare this product to Aquaphor, which is "good", but very greasy. Aquaphor also tends to smear on clothing/linens and is visibly (unattractively) shiny. Recently, Aquaphor wasn't effective in healing my eczema after scratching and I wanted to try a new product. I'd been through all of the Aveena/Cetaphil/Eucerin creams, lotions, and bodywashes, but I hadn't yet tried the Theraplex brand.Theraplex Emollient is a white, thick, heavy cream. After applying it, there is no shininess as with Aquaphor. The cream immediately fills in raw areas of skin and forms a barrier on top. The feel is not the same as with Aquaphor or petroleum jelly, which both feel very greasy . Instead, this leaves your skin feeling soft, with a matte/dull appearance, but higher surface resistance (your fingers will not glide smoothly over your skin, but rather get slowed down by a slight "stickiness"). I find that it truly immediately improves the appearance of raw, scratched, or peeling skin, to the extent that I feel much less self-conscious.Please give this product a try if you struggle with severe eczema. I am so glad that I did. I depend on this product to live my life more normally. Note: I also tried other Theraplex products and have been less impressed. The Theraplex Clear Lotion seems to work well as a post-shower oil (not totally sure if it's really making a difference), but the Hydrolotion doesn't seem to be any more effective than any other normal moisturizer.

Both my babies had eczema when they were small, and Theraplex is the only thing that got it under control both times. Yes it’s thick and sticky, but if you apply it under clothes that helps it from getting all over. I like that it has no real scent and starts working right away. The two photos were taken 12 hours (2 applications) apart, and it’s clear that this red, irritated patch of skin is already improved—although it will take more time and applications to heal it completely. It’s not the cheapest lotion, but it’s worth it to me bc it works better than anything else by far. Adult eczema sufferers in my life use it with good results as well.

We bought this cream a week ago because my wife's knuckles and fingers were extremely cracked and raw and her hands hurt to the point she could not put gloves on. She tried many other creams that have worked well for other things but did not do the job for her dry, cracked fingers. The first day she started using Theraplex her fingers were already getting better. They continued to get better every day to the point where today her fingers are almost back to normal. There are no cracks, they are smooth, she can put her gloves on, and best of all there is no pain. I must say this is quite a miraculous product that we recommend highly, at least for very dry and cracked skin. It is a bit greasy and sticky when first put on but that goes away in a few minutes and is not really a problem.

My husband has severe eczema on his hands. This is the only cream that has worked on his hands. Its very waxy and if you dont have eczema you will hate the texture. For my husband though it keeps moisture on hands and heals cracks. He now uses it constantly and his hands look much better. The texture is sticky but extremely effective cream.

Worked great for my kid's eczema. Use it after bath time and under wet socks to keep the moisture in longer.

Sealed my skin with a wax like substance I couldn't get off. Caused a major infection of my hands. Don't use it!