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Available
without a prescription, except where noted:
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Emolient
Only |
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Vaseline®
100% Pure Petroleum Jelly, and
of course Vaseline Intensive Care® Lotion, Vaseline Intensive Care®
Hand and Nail Lotion, Vaseline Intensive Care® Moisturizing Body
Wash, Vaseline® Lip Therapy. Vaseline
is one of the original products recommended for people with ichthyosis,
and continues to be one of the most popular.
Vaseline Petroleum Jelly Cream Dual
Action Alpha Hydroxy formula also comes recommended by our users (creams
with lecithin dramatically help some people in making the skin softer and
not so tight). |
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Eucerin
is one of the oldest products that people with ichthyosis have
relied on (right after Vaseline!). As you can see from the
picture, the Eurcerin line of products has expanded in recent years to
include a number of creams, lotions, and related products. Most
people with ichthyosis prefer the creams, either Eucerin Original
Cream or Eucerin Plus Cream (the "Plus" means
alpha hydroxy acids have been added...so the "Plus" version
should really be classified below with "exfoliants.")
because the cream version is heavier, and keeps ichthyotic skin
moister, longer. Check
out Beiersdorf's webpage for more information on Eucerin. New:
Beiersdorf has expanded the Eucerin line with the addition of
Eucerin 10 Percent Urea Cream. It's available only by
prescription, but this means at least you stand a better chance of
your insurance covering it! |
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Also
made by Beiersdorf, Aquaphor
also scores very highly on the "favorites" list of people
with all types of ichthyosis. Aquaphor is actually intended for
treating burns. It is fragrance-free and, although it has great
"staying power", it also washes off easily. |
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Is
the itching driving you crazy? Stiefel Laboratories makes Sarna,
a topical analgesic and anesthetic that is available without a
prescription. It contains pramoxine HCI 1%, camphor 0.5%, and
menthol 0.5%. Not only does it moisturize, but it's "active
ingredients" work to stop the itching. It's in a nice,
white lotion base that seems to be non-irritating to most people. The
people who like it the most are those with lots of itching, kids with
Lamellar Ichthyosis, everyone with PRP, Dariers Disease, etc. It
is very reasonable at $6-$7 for a fairly large size and is available
at drug stores. There are some other good anti-itch products
that are over the counter, but this is the one
that people with ichthyosis recommend the most often, because it has
worked on nearly everyone that has tried it and it washes out of
clothing etc. |
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Carmol
is also a product that has been used by people with
ichthyosis for many years. We've included it "non
prescription" products, as certain forms can be obtained without
a prescription; however, it is available in strongers versions that do
require a presciption. Check
out Bradley Pharmaceuticals webpage for more information. |
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Velvachol
by itself does not contain any exfoliant
ingredient. Velvachol is an excellent base, to which an alpha
hydroxy acid can be added (to have Velvachol compounded with an alpha
hydroxy acid would require a prescription, though). Why do we
consider Velvachol such a great base? Because it contains
moisturizing ingredients that are effective with ichthyotic skin (like
petrolatum and mineral oil), but unlike pure petrolatum, it is water
miscible. This means it's easier to wash out of your clothes,
sheets, any fabric that comes in contact with your skin when it's
"creamed up," minimizing the "gunky build-up" on
the fabric that can result with other products. Velvachol can
also be used by itself, just as a moisturizer. |
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Lubriderm |
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Curel |
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Moisturel |
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Emolient
and/or Exfolliant |
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Do
you use a cream that works great on your ichthyosis but don't see it
listed here? Let us know! We'll add it.
Want
to try a new cream, but anxious about whether it will work or
whether it's appropriate? If you have any doubts about any of
these products or anything else you've read here, talk to your
doctor!
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Neoceutical's
Problem Dry Skin (PDS) treatments were
created especially for people with ichthyosis, and is fast becoming a
favorite. PDS cream comes in two strengths; the PDS line of
products also includes a scalp treatment, ear care, and other helpful
products. For
a comprehensive analysis of PDS, check out a Case
Study that NeoStrata did. Besides showing the very
impressive results that patients saw, it also provides some great
pictures of what different types of ichthyotic skin look like.
Check out NeoStrata's
webpage for more information, including ordering both within the
U.S. and internationally. |
| Dermal
Therapy makes several excellent creams and lotions,
including an Alpha Hydroxy Lotion specially formulated for FIRST
members. The Alpha Hydroxy Lotion contains 10% urea and 10%
lactic acid, stabilized in pure silk protein. The silk
protein makes this product really unique, as I don't know anyone else
who does this, and it smoothes the skin in a way that nothing else
I've ever used does. It's also not only fragrance-free,
it's recently been re-formulated to be odor-free (you know how certain
creams have a funny odor? None of that with this one!)
In the US or Canada, you can
contact Dermal Therapy at 800-668-8000 or visit
their website.
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| Upsher Smith has recently started
marketing their product, Amlactin 12%
, as a non-prescription alternative to Lac-Hydrin. Amlactin 12%
contains ammonium lactate, the same as
Lac-Hydrin (which is equivalent to 12% lactic acid). However, Lac-Hydrin
12% is only available with a prescription, whereas Amlactin is
available over-the-counter. If you’ve always wondered if Lac-Hydrin
would help you, but never taken the trouble to get a prescription and
try it, Amlactin may be your ticket to give it a try with less hassle.
Check out Upsher
Smith's website for more information, or in the US call
1-800-654-2299, extension 411 . |
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Aqua
Glycolic is a favorite of many with ichthyosis, though it
seems currently to be prefered by people with mild-to-moderate cases
of ichthyosis. It is made by Allergan; Allergan has long been
known for developing products that help people with ichthyosis.
Check out Allergan's
website for more information on Aqua Glycolic. |
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Calmurid.
Like
Carmol, Calmurid also contains carbamide (10%), but it also contains
5% lactic acid. |
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Epilyt.
From
Stiefel Laboratories, Epilyt contains propylene glycol, glycerin,
lactic and oleic acids. |
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Ultramide
25. From
Baker-Cummins, Ultramide 25 contains 25% urea. |
Prescription
required:
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Retin-A:
Like
many products that are helpful to some people with ichthyosis, this
one was originally developed for use on acne. It contains
tretinoin. This is one of those products that people with
ichthyosis seem to either love or hate. You never know until you
try it; talk to your dermatologist about Retin-A
if you're interested. |
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Lac-Hydrin |
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Tazorac
is manufactured by Allergan and is actually intended for the treatment
of psoriasis and acne. Unlike most of the creams and lotions used for
ichthyosis treatment, it is applied to the skin when dry. It does a
great job of de-scaling. |
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