There’s a cream, ointment, or gel for everything from insect stings, eczema, and summer skin infections brought on by sweating to persistent complaints like mouth ulcers and conjunctivitis.
The beauty of them is that they start working immediately when needed, “and because they don’t pass through the digestive system and liver – as oral tablets and liquids do – they cause fewer side effects,” explains Dr. Faheem Latif, a consultant dermatologist at Leeds NHS Hospitals Trust.
But with the variety on offer and prices varying widely, how do you know what to choose?
We asked the experts for their recommendations on the best over-the-counter remedies for common skin complaints.
Eczema/Dry skin
Expert pick (body): Hydromol Ointment, 125g, £6.50, boots.com
Hydromol ointment
“Many people with eczema struggle to find an emollient that moisturizes their skin enough to help with itching and soreness,” says Dr. Latheef, because most over-the-counter medications aren’t formulated to address these conditions.
Dermatologists recommend ointments instead [which have a Vaseline-like consistency] because creams contain water and need preservatives to prevent the water from “leaking out”, but these added additives can sometimes irritate the skin.
“Ointments, on the other hand, are oil-based and water-free, so they don’t need these preservatives, but they tend to be greasier and more suitable for use on the hands, feet and torso than on the face.”
“Hydromol ointment is good value and is effective against very dry skin conditions such as eczema or psoriasis.”
Expert pick (for face): CeraVe Hydrating Cream, 454g, £12.80, boots.com
— In recent studies [sponsored by the maker]this has proven to be very effective in increasing skin hydration for at least 24 hours after a single application.
— Contains three ceramides [fat molecules that form a key part of the skin barrier], and uses multi-vesicular emulsion, a slow-release technology developed by the manufacturer that gradually releases moisturizing ingredients over 24 hours, instead of all at once as with conventional creams. It’s also fragrance-free, so it’s less likely to irritate sensitive skin and is non-comedogenic [won’t clog pores].’
Conjunctivitis
Expert pick: Numark Chloramphenicol 1% Eye Ointment, 4g, £3, doorsteppharmacy.com
“Chloramphenicol is an antibiotic that kills the bacteria responsible for eye infections such as conjunctivitis,” says Sultan Dajani, a pharmacist from Hampshire.
“Use the ointment version instead of eye drops because the drops can be diluted by watery eyes, making them less effective. The salve won’t dilute in the same way, but it will blur your vision for a short time.
“It’s also good for clearing up barley and doesn’t need to be refrigerated like eye drops do because the active ingredient remains stable at room temperature.
“Choose a pharmacy’s own brand — such as Numark — over a branded version as it’s the same but costs £3 compared to £5.99 for Optrex Infected Eye Ointment, for example.
“Use three to four times a day, tapering off as symptoms improve. You can buy it over the counter for adults and children aged two and over, but you will need a prescription for children under two.
Numark Chloramphenicol 1% Eye Ointment
Acne
Expert pick: Acnecide 5% Gel Benzoyl Peroxide, 30g, £6.59, chemist-4-u.com
“The best over-the-counter products for mild acne are those that contain 5 percent benzoyl peroxide, such as Acnecide,” says Dr. Latheef. “Benzoyl peroxide kills the bacteria that contribute to acne; it also removes excess oil and dead cells in clogged pores that bacteria feed on.
“And if you’re taking certain antibiotics for acne (such as lymecycline, prescribed for moderate to severe acne), using a gel containing benzoyl peroxide in addition to those medications means more bacteria are killed, reducing the chance of antibiotic resistance.”
Acnecide 5% Gel Benzoyl Peroxide
Muscle pain
Expert pick: Ibuleve Pain Relief 5% Gel, 50g, £6.50, boots.com
“I often recommend this gel to patients,” says Tim Allardyce, physiotherapist at Surrey Physio.
“It contains 5 percent ibuprofen, an anti-inflammatory. Ibuprofen tablets are not suitable for everyone – especially those with stomach ulcers [it irritates the stomach lining] or asthma [it can worsen symptoms]. And although you get a slightly lower dose in a gel because it has to penetrate the skin, at least you can rub it in where you need it and it doesn’t have to be ground.
“There is also a 10 percent max strength version, but start with the lower strength. You may not need the higher dose, although there is virtually no chance of side effects with any strength gel.
Ibuleve pain reliever 5% gel
Virasoothe cooling gel for chicken pox relief
Itchy skin/chicken pox
Expert pick: Virasoothe Chickenpox Relief Cooling Gel, 75g, £9.50, boots.com
“It’s a much better treatment for chicken pox than the better-known calamine lotion,” says Sultan Dajani.
“Calamine lotion dries on the skin, causing itching and scratching that can lead to scarring. It also leaves a messy, chalky residue and needs to be reapplied several times a day.
“But Virasoothe is much more soothing because it contains glycerin, carbomer and sodium hydroxide – ingredients that draw moisture to the surface of the skin.
“This soothing effect means less scratching [and potential scarring]. And the effects last up to eight hours.
Calloused heels
Expert pick: Flexitol Heel Balm, 112g, £9.49, superdrug.com
Flexitol heel balm
“Cracked heels can develop into fissures if left untreated and are a potential site for microorganisms to enter the body,” says Dr. Latheef.
“Untreated, this can cause skin infections such as cellulitis [a bacterial infection in the deeper layers of the skin]athlete’s foot due to fungus and warts or verrucas due to viruses.
“The risk of infection is higher if you have diabetes because the immune system is weaker and there is often poor circulation in the feet.
“Since a lack of moisture in the skin around the area is one of the most common causes of cracked heels, using an effective moisturizer twice a day can go a long way.
“Flexitol Heel Balm contains 25 percent urea, which draws moisture from the air, locking it into the skin.”
Mouth ulcers
Expert pick: Iglu Rapid Relief Mouth Ulcer Treatment Gel, 8g, £6.29, boots.com
“Mouth ulcers can be caused by a weakened immune system, injury and grinding your teeth at night, as well as certain bacteria and food sensitivities,” says James Gulnick, a dentist at Bow Lane Dental Group in London.
“They can appear on the inside of the cheeks, on the lips, on the tongue and gums, and less commonly on the palate. Sometimes they form in painful groups.
“Iglu gel contains an anesthetic, lidocaine hydrochloride, which numbs the area while the ulcer heals, plus aminoacridine hydrochloride, a disinfectant that kills the bacteria responsible, and paraffin wax, which forms a protective coating that stops food and bacteria from entering.
“Try to avoid eating with the gel. It lasts for about an hour and can be reapplied if needed. Iglu can be bought over the counter for anyone over the age of seven, but see a doctor or dentist for any sores that do not heal within ten days.
Iglu fast relief gel treatment of mouth ulcers
Stings and bites
Expert pick: Anthisan cream, 25g, £4.49, boots.com
“If you get a localized sting or allergic reaction to a bite, then the best option is to rub an antihistamine cream, such as Anthisan, on the affected area,” says Sultan Dajani.
“It works immediately and contains an antihistamine called mepyramine maleate. Histamine is a chemical produced by the body and stored in cells called mast cells in almost all tissues of the body. When the body reacts to a foreign substance, such as a sting, mast cells break down, releasing their stores of histamine – which cause the symptoms of an allergic reaction, including inflammation, redness and itching of the skin.
“Mepyramine stabilizes mast cells, preventing them from disintegrating. Antihistamine tablets aren’t very helpful if you’ve just been stung, as they take two or three days to work.
Anti-sun cream
Fungal infections
Expert pick: Clotrimazole 1% cream, 20g, £1.99, chemist-4-u.com
“This is effective in treating fungal skin infections, including ringworm, fungal diaper rash, and infections of the groin, armpits, or skin folds,” says Sultan Dajani.
“The active ingredient, clotrimazole, kills the fungal infection, relieving itching. Use five days after that to prevent any remaining spores from germinating.
“Save money by buying a pharmacy’s own brand like this – instead of a better-known name like Canesten, which costs around £3.49.”
Clotrimazole 1% cream
Remote health
Improving patient care through remote monitoring. This week: Mental health patients
A new tool the size of a credit card has been developed to help remotely monitor mental health patients for heart problems caused by antipsychotic drugs.
Developed by AliveCor KardiaMobile, the device is a portable electrocardiogram (ECG) — allowing healthcare professionals to take accurate readings of a patient’s heart rate without the need to go to a hospital. An assessment that can be done in their home is also less intrusive and saves time.
The results are sent to the clinical team via Bluetooth to a mobile phone or tablet — the readings can then be analyzed to decide if the patient’s treatment needs to be changed. The device is currently being used in Yorkshire and the North East, reducing delays in heart checks.
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