How do YOU apply eczema medication?

I have gotten 3 different instructions from 3 different doctors, just wondering which one you all do.

1. Apply the moisturizing lotion (regular otc kind) first. Then apply the eczema medicine lotion (prescription kind)

2. apply the eczema medicine first, then apply the regular lotion on top of it

3. apply the medicine first then wait an hour and apply the regular lotion

maybe if I go to a fourth doctor, I'll hear "apply the regular lotion then wait an hour and apply the medicine"
:)

Re: How do YOU apply eczema medication?

#3

How do YOU apply eczema medication?

I do closest to # 3, but not timing an hour, just applying them at different times. Could be less than an hour if close to bed time or running out somewhere.
I've also heard these options:
- wait 10 minutes after medicine
- Apply lotion where you don't apply medicine
- mix it all together in your hand
- order doesn't matter

How do YOU apply eczema medication?

3. I was told you have to wait an hour between a regular moisturizer and the medicated ointments.

Re: How do YOU apply eczema medication?

I'm always in a hurry and end up doing #2 (and it still seems to work). #1 is not as effective because you want the skin to absorb the medicine. If you apply any moisturizer first, you'll end up creating a barrier between the skin and the medicine.

How do YOU apply eczema medication?

3

Re: How do YOU apply eczema medication?

#3. I moisture and apply the Rx ointment/cream at separate times not one after the other.

How do YOU apply eczema medication?

# 3 also. I give the meds a chance to soak in before I put regular cream on.

How do YOU apply eczema medication?

#3

Re: How do YOU apply eczema medication?

3, though I don't actually time an hour. Meds go on after bath and moisturizer goes on before bed.

How do YOU apply eczema medication?

Wow I didn't expect so many #3s.

Got a new prescription medicine for DD yesterday.
Decided to try it out.
So last night we gave DD a bath around 9pm and then we hit a roadblock.
I thought you were supposed to moisturize after a bath to "seal in the moisture".
But we needed to apply her medicine - so we did the medicine and not the lotion until 30 minutes later. (which I think is too long to "seal the moisture in")
She had a rough night last night, kept scratching (due to the new medicine not being good? due to not moisturizing right away? who knows)

Re: How do YOU apply eczema medication?

I usually do #2