If you suffer from atopic dermatitis, or eczema, then lotions and creams are some of your best friends. Since individuals with this condition have extremely dry skin that often itches, frequent moisturizing is a necessary part of the daily care regimen.
There are hundreds of lotions on the market, but for people with eczema, not just any old lotion will do. Most require that the lotion be fragrance free and dye free. Thinner lotions usually evaporate before they can effectively moisturize the skin. Heavier creams are preferred because they moisturize as well as provide a barrier for the skin, so the already dry areas do not lose more moisture, and any open sores, a frequent problem for eczema sufferers due to scratching, will have some protection.
Even with these requirements, there are still many good lotions available. Unfortunately, the better the lotion or cream performs, the higher the price for that product.
Eucerin Dry Skin Therapy Moisturizing Crème is often suggested by dermatologists and eczema patients for relief of dry, itchy skin. This cream indeed has performed well for my eczema patient, my five-year-old daughter. It has in every way lived up to its marketing claims to “create an occlusive seal that protects skin impaired by disease”, be mild enough for use on children, and it is fragrance-free and non-irritating. Furthermore, unlike some other moisturizing options, such as petroleum jelly or prescription ointments, Eucerin Dry Skin Therapy Moisturizing Crème does not leave grease stains on clothes, furniture, carpeting, or bedding.
The greatest downfall of the Eucerin Dry Skin Therapy Moisturizing Crème is its price tag. Even at discount stores such as Wal-Mart, consumers may pay up to $13.47 for a 16-ounce tub of this great moisturizing cream. While that may sound relatively cheap for a high-performing product, if you use more than one tub a week, and have to keep one tub at home, one at school, and one available to take on the road, that price can add up quickly.
Fortunately, there is a store brand alternative to this product that actually performs on every point just as well as Eucerin Dry Skin Therapy Moisturizing Crème. Wal-Mart’s store brand, Equate Dry Skin Cream, is a nearly identical swap.
The ingredients’ list for both products includes the same elements, in the same order. The size of the tub is the same, 16 ounces. The texture is exactly the same as its more expensive counterpart. The appearance is slightly different, with the Equate Dry Skin Cream exhibiting a slightly more “pearlesque” appearance than Eucerin Dry Skin Therapy Moisturizing Creme. Both products are fragrance-free, and so in the container, there is no difference in smell. I have noticed, however, that there is a difference in how the creams smell once applied to my daughter’s skin.
The two key factors regarding this substitute are that the Equate Dry Skin Cream, like Eucerin Dry Skin Therapy Moisturizing Crème, does not leave grease stains on everything it touches, and, most importantly, the level of moisture and comfort it provides to my eczema sufferer is as good as its name brand competition. At a price of $3.47 for a 16 ounce tub (it is not available in a smaller size, like the Eucerin Dry Skin Therapy Moisturizing Creme is), there is really nothing left to consider.
Equate Dry Skin Cream performs in every aspect as well as Eucerin Dry Skin Therapy Moisturizing Creme, at a price that is up to $10.00 cheaper per 16 ounce container. For anyone suffering eczema who has had good results with the Eucerin products, I highly recommend you try the Equate Dry Skin Cream. Your skin, and your wallet, will be grateful.
