If you have searched for a steroid free eczema cream, you are probably looking for something you can use every day without worrying about what long term steroid use is doing to your skin.
That is a reasonable thing to want, and there is real evidence behind it. But the picture is more useful than either side of the usual argument suggests, so here is what the research actually shows.
Do steroid free eczema creams actually work?
Yes, but not in the way most product marketing implies. Emollients and medical moisturisers do not switch off an active flare the way a topical steroid does. What they do, with good evidence behind them, is reduce how often flares happen, lengthen the gaps between them, and reduce how much steroid cream you end up needing overall.
That is the honest claim, and it is a genuinely valuable one. Fewer flares means less steroid use, which is what most people searching for a steroid free option actually want.
What does the research say about emollients for eczema?
A Cochrane systematic review published in 2017 examined 77 randomised controlled trials covering 6,603 participants. It found that moisturisers reduce the number of eczema flares, prolong the time until the next flare, and reduce the need for topical corticosteroids. It also found that moisturisers combined with topical steroids work better than steroids used alone.
This is the strongest evidence base in the category, and it is why daily moisturising sits at the centre of eczema management guidelines internationally rather than being treated as optional.
Emollients and moisturisers for eczema: abridged Cochrane systematic review. van Zuuren EJ, Fedorowicz Z, Christensen R et al. British Journal of Dermatology, 2017
One important caveat from the same review: it did not find convincing evidence that any single moisturiser outperforms all others. Head to head comparisons are limited. So the useful question is not which cream is objectively best, but which one suits your skin, contains ingredients that address your symptoms, and is pleasant enough to use that you will keep using it daily.
Is there research on ALHYDRAN specifically for eczema?
Yes. Researchers at Maastricht University have studied ALHYDRAN in venous and hypostatic eczema, and reported that symptoms diminished across the patients treated, skin hydration visibly improved, and topical corticosteroid use may be reduced. The work was published in the Journal of Gerontology and Geriatric Research.
Application of Medical Moisture Retention Cream (ALHYDRAN) in the treatment of venous eczema. Maastricht University
Worth being precise about what this does and does not show. These studies looked at venous and hypostatic eczema, which mainly affects the lower legs and is driven by circulation, rather than atopic eczema. They are also small studies rather than large randomised trials. What they support is that this particular cream improves skin hydration and eczema symptoms, and that reduced steroid use is a plausible outcome, which is consistent with the much larger Cochrane finding on moisturisers generally.
Separately, ALHYDRAN has been studied for itch specifically. A pilot study at the Burn Centre in Rotterdam, presented to the European Burn Association, reported reduced itch intensity, improved quality of life, and better sleep in children.
Should I stop using my steroid cream?
No, not without talking to your doctor first. Undertreated eczema causes more long term skin damage than appropriately used topical steroids do, and stopping a prescribed treatment during a flare usually makes things worse. Steroid free creams are designed to work alongside prescribed treatment, not to replace it.
The realistic goal is a good daily routine that keeps your skin barrier in better condition, so that flares are less frequent and you reach for the steroid cream less often. That is what the evidence supports.
What should I look for in a steroid free eczema cream?
Look for hormone free and fragrance free, with active ingredients that address the specific problem rather than just adding surface moisture. The three that matter most for eczema are a humectant to draw water into the skin, an occlusive element to stop it escaping again, and something that calms the reactivity of irritated skin.
Fragrance is worth avoiding entirely. It is one of the most common contact irritants in skincare, and eczema-prone skin is already sensitised.
What is the best steroid free eczema cream in NZ?
The strongest steroid free options in New Zealand are medical creams formulated specifically for a disrupted skin barrier, rather than general moisturisers. ALHYDRAN Eczema Care is a hormone free medical cream built on the ALHYDRAN base formula, which was originally developed in burn centres for damaged skin and is used in New Zealand clinics.
Its active ingredients each do a specific job:
- Aloe vera gel as the base rather than water, providing hydration that lasts
- Urea, a humectant that draws moisture into the skin and softens rough, thickened patches
- Lactic acid, which supports the skin's natural acidity and helps protect against bacteria
- Glycyrrhetinic acid, derived from liquorice root, which reduces skin reactivity
It contains no hormones and no perfume, and is intended for daily use over long periods rather than short courses.
Shop ALHYDRAN Eczema Care in New Zealand
What helps eczema itch at night?
Cooling the skin is the most effective immediate response to eczema itch, because cold sensation travels along the same nerve pathways as itch and interrupts it. This is why itch often feels worse in a warm bed and why a cooling cream applied before sleep helps more than a plain moisturiser.
ALHYDRAN Anti Itch Care is built for this. It uses menthyl lactate rather than menthol, which produces the same cooling effect without menthol's tendency to irritate sensitive skin, and it hydrates at the same time rather than drying the skin out the way alcohol-based cooling products do.
Breaking the itch cycle matters more than it sounds. Scratching damages the skin barrier, which triggers inflammation, which causes more itch. Interrupting that loop is a real intervention, not just symptom relief.
Can you use Eczema Care and Anti Itch Care together?
Yes. They are designed to work together and address different problems. Eczema Care is the daily maintenance cream that keeps the skin barrier in better condition between flares. Anti Itch Care is used as needed when itch is the immediate issue, particularly at night.
Neither should be applied to broken or open skin from scratching. Wait until the skin has closed.
How often should you apply eczema cream?
Apply a steroid free eczema cream at least two to three times a day, and more often if the skin feels dry. Consistency matters more than quantity, because the flare prevention benefit in the research comes from continuous daily use rather than occasional application when symptoms appear.
Apply to clean, dry skin, and treat the area around the eczema patch as well as the patch itself.
Can children use steroid free eczema cream?
Yes. ALHYDRAN Eczema Care is suitable for children, but it is not recommended for infants under six months unless a healthcare professional advises otherwise. Eczema is very common in New Zealand children, and a gentle daily routine started early is one of the more useful things you can put in place.
For any child with moderate or severe eczema, work with your GP or a dermatologist on the overall plan rather than managing it with creams alone.
When should you see a doctor about eczema?
See a doctor if eczema is weeping, crusting or looks infected, is not improving with regular care, is affecting sleep, or is covering a large area of the body. Infected eczema needs medical treatment and will not resolve with moisturiser.
- Weeping, crusting, or yellow scabs, which may indicate infection
- Skin that is hot, swollen or increasingly painful
- Eczema that is not improving with consistent daily care
- Itch severe enough to disrupt sleep regularly
- Any sudden or widespread worsening
Steroid free creams support eczema management. They are not a substitute for medical assessment.
Where to buy ALHYDRAN eczema creams in New Zealand
ALHYDRAN Eczema Care and Anti Itch Care are available in New Zealand from OneUp Healthcare, which supplies hospitals and clinics nationwide.
Browse the ALHYDRAN eczema range
ALHYDRAN Eczema Care and Anti Itch Care are medical skincare products for use on intact skin. They do not replace prescribed treatment. Always follow the advice of your doctor or dermatologist, and do not stop a prescribed medication without medical advice.
