sally h

I tried asking this on another forum that had a health section, but no-one had an answer that helped...just a redirection to another site, that didn't help!

I suffer from dry skin, a very mild eczema that I keep under control by using aqueous cream instead of soap.(I'm allergic to soap)
It's a paraffin based emollient cream that is easily available in any UK pharmacy and is dirt cheap. I have had terrible trouble scouring the web for any reference to it in Canada. I've found some products that seem similar, but fancy brand names and very expensive.
Please if anyone knows what I am talking about, and has any suggestions on where I can get it or something similar, please let me know.
I am quite worried as I will definatly need to be able to wash when I get to Canada!!!...without all of my skin peeling off!!!
Thanks
Sally

Alberta_Rose

I suppose, if all else fails, the thing to do is bring a big supply with you when you come, and get regular parcels sent out, and brought by any visitors! ... at least until you find something that works here.

Souvenir

That's what I did. Just before I left I got my GP to write a prescription for a huge quantity of exczema cream. Somewhat ironically, the condition cleared up soon after I got here.

iaink

Does this product have an official name?

Sounds like something my kid was using for while.

sally h

It's name is Aqueous Cream BP, and is made by different manufacturers all calling it the same thing,
The ingredients are as follows : Liquid paraffin 6%w/w, white soft paraffin w/w, also contains Purified water, Emulsifying wax, Chlorocresol 0.1% w/w.

The BP on the end of the name refers to the country it is made in, so I was told by me local pharmacist, who I also asked this question to....she didn't know!

Morwenna and Souvenir - Yes, I probably will! I wonder how many tubs I can fit in my suitcase, and I hope it doesn't spill over the packs of paxo stuffing that apparently is also not available in Canada. Not too worried about he paxo, but would really like to be able to find this cream!
Thanks for your thoughts
Sally

dingbat

Cetaphil (the best one)
It is fragrance-free and non-comedogenic. Cetaphil can be used with or without water and can even be used to clean sensitive baby rash areas. Cetaphil is used bythose currently on topical medications for various skin conditions such as acne, rosacea, eczema, etc.

http://www.cetaphil.ca/contact.cfm


Choice DM Body Wash:

I used it for my son until his eczema disappeared (bet your itchy skin does when you get here). Soothes with moisturizers to relieve dry, itchy skin. . ChoiceDM Moisturizing Body Wash provides special care for dry, sensitive skin. Non-drying formula gently cleanses and soothes to relieve dry, itchy skin. Non-irritating, fragrance-free, soap-free formula. Bristol-Myers Squibb . Made in Canada.

When the skin has cleared up, use Phisoderm, available in major drug stores at about $7.99.

There are other "cream" moisturisers too - usually found in the same place in the stores. These cleansers will always be found in the pharmacy section, not the soap/bath section.

louisa

i'm sure i have seen this product, or something very similar, in the Co-op. they have an online grocery delivery but you have to log in to find out. their site is www.picndel.com.

Investor

BP is an abbreviation of 'British Pharmacopeia' which is a directory of contents that all such medicines have to contain regardless of whichever company manufactures it. In other words if you purchased Aqueous Cream BP
in Boots it would be exactly the same product that you would get if you purchased Lloyds own brand, but they are allowed to vary the price.

I am sure that Canada will have something similar to the British Pharmacopeia so it will be a case of looking at all the creams contained in it and finding the nearest thing to aqueous, but you probably won't get an exact match.

Souvenir

That stuff sounds pretty basic. I'm sure you'll be able to find no-name brands here. BP, by the way, stands for British Pharmacopoeia, which is the complete set of standards for all medicines in the UK. It is typically found on non-branded stuff (ie the patent has run out or there never was one), like aspirin and paracetomol (get used to calling it Tylenol). Thus, if you have a pack of 500mg paracetomol BP from Boots and one from Tesco, they will be exactly the same. You will also find BP attached to the generic ingredients in branded products, such as creams.

Now, where did I put that anorak?

nivlad

The best thing to do is either try Oilatum (which u can get here) or emulsifying ointment (the base for aqeous cream). What we did was then make you own aqueous cream by adding water and mixing up. The Emulsifying oinment is liquid parafin based and fairly stiff so u might need to build some muscles up to get it mixed (I used my hands initially). A mix of 4:1 water:emulsify should be good. Off the top of my head the emulsifying is around $20 -$30 a 500g tub, not half as cheap as Boots eh.

Hope this helps

sally h

To everyone who replied.
Thankyou, thankyou, thankyou!!!
You have all given me hope that I will not have to go around looking like a dried prune.
Sally

nivlad

Do u use steroids? We are still using over the counter hydro we bought at boots on my daughter. We have had to use a bit during the winter when the house is very dry. Anyway, stock up with steroids, if u use them as they are a lot more expensive over here and not an over the counter drug.

sally h

I use the occasional dap of H5 cream, but not very often. Thanks for the warning, I'll buy acouple of tubes just in case.
Sally

Souvenir

Is your obvious interest in creams in any way reflected in your user name?

Stu-pot

Hi Sally h,
you could try the Shoppers Drug Mart once your in Canada, they are also on line if you want to search before you go.
You can now get Aqueous cream in a solid form similar to soap, at least it wont spill in your luggage