It may not come in a luxurious bottle with a hefty price tag, but Sudocrem has earned its place as a cult classic in bathroom cabinets everywhere. Originally designed to soothe nappy rash, this humble white cream has been a household staple for decades, tackling everything from minor skin irritations to unexpected beauty concerns.
But beyond its well-known ability to calm redness and irritation, Sudocrem has a surprising number of alternative uses that many people have yet to discover. Packed with zinc oxide, an ingredient known for its protective and healing properties, it’s gentle enough for sensitive skin yet effective enough to make a real difference.
To separate the hype from the facts, we spoke to dermatologists about the true benefits of Sudocrem. Dr. Salome Dharamshi, dermatologist and founder of Sky Clinic, says: “I absolutely love Sudocrem. I think it’s one of the most underestimated, miraculous skincare products out there. While most people associate it with nappy rash, there are so many other benefits that many people don’t know about.”
However, as much as experts rave about this £3 skincare saviour, it’s not without its caveats. With ingredients like lanolin and benzyl alcohol, it’s not ideal for daily use on all skin types, as it can clog pores or cause sensitivity in some individuals. Dr. Dharamshi cautions: “It’s a thick cream that contains lanolin, which can be comedogenic. For some people, it may cause irritation or allergic reactions.” So, if you notice any discomfort, it’s best to discontinue use.
Disclaimers aside, if you’re looking for clever, budget-friendly ways to incorporate Sudocrem into your beauty routine, we’ve got you covered. Here are some of the most unexpected yet brilliant ways to use this skincare staple.
1. Soothe psoriasis
Skin conditions like psoriasis can take a serious toll on your confidence, often causing scaly patches, intense itching, and inflammation. While it’s not a cure, Sudocrem has been shown to help soothe sore, irritated skin thanks to its hypoallergenic ingredients, including lanolin and zinc oxide. Dr. Usman Qureshi, aesthetic doctor and founder of Luxe Skin by Dr. Q, explains: “Sudocrem is a great product for inflammatory skin conditions. While it’s not cosmeceutical, it excels when it comes to treating damaged skin. It contains zinc, which we know helps in eczema, psoriasis and skin repair. The alcohol in it helps disinfect the skin surface while lanolin puts back the moisture.”
2. During a DIY hair dye job
Few things are more frustrating than dyeing your hair at home, only to end up with stubborn stains on your skin that distract from your fresh new look. Next time you’re switching up your hair colour, try applying a thin layer of Sudocrem along your hairline – it acts as a protective barrier, preventing dye from staining your skin.
3. When you’re grooming your brows at home
Plucking or waxing your brows at home can be a godsend when you don’t have time to book in for a professional appointment, but the bumpy rash that often rears its head afterwards isn’t. However, beauty buffs swear by the power of Sudocrem for beating the bumps! Hallelujah!
4. Target wrinkles
If you’re looking for a budget-friendly alternative to pricey moisturiser, Sudocrem might be a surprising solution. Zinc acts as a natural astringent, helping to tighten the skin’s elastin fibers and create a smoother, more refreshed appearance.
5. As a primer
Don’t have a primer to hand? Fear not; Sudocrem will serve as the perfect base for your makeup. It will act as a semi-veil on your skin, allowing your base makeup to sit perfectly — and stay put without caking.
It might not be a glamorous topic but everyone’s experienced that pesky red rash between their thighs at some point in their life and with humid temperatures set to rise throughout the year, the awkward beauty blunder shows no sign of abating. That’s where Sudocrem can help! Pop some on your thighs to keep things rash-free.
7. For soothing acne
Sudocrem is packed with acne-fighting ingredients like zinc oxide and benzyl alcohol. Zinc, a key nutrient in the body, helps combat infection and inflammation, making it effective at soothing breakouts, reducing redness, and minimising the size of spots. “Sudocrem works as a barrier protection cream, formulated with some of the safest active ingredients, including zinc oxide. Zinc is a fantastic ingredient for targeting acne and improving redness,” says Dr. Salome.
8. To help heal minor cuts, broken or burnt skin
Sudocrem is a great treatment for minor cuts, burns and scrapes as it acts a protective barrier to prevent infection and bad bacteria from entering the wound. It’s also formulated with zinc which recent studies have shown it to speed up the healing time of wounds. “Sudocrem also contains benzyl alcohol that has anaesthetic properties and it is great to soothe the pain of damaged skin and has antiseptic properties that protect the skin from infection,” says Dr. Salome.
9. For reducing soreness of sunburnt skin
Once again, zinc takes the spotlight as the key ingredient behind Sudocrem’s skin-soothing benefits. Just as it helps heal minor burns and scrapes, zinc works to calm and relieve sunburnt skin, reducing redness and discomfort.
10. For even fake tan application
As a barrier cream, Sudocrem can also help prevent fake tan mishaps. Applying a thin layer to areas like your hairline, ankles, and the bottoms of your feet can stop the tan from clinging to dry patches, helping you avoid streaks and those tell-tale, dreaded orange hands. Plus, if you’ve gone overboard, Sudocrem can help fade excess tan with repeated application.
11. To soothe discomfort from insect bites
Sudocrem properties are useful to treat almost any minor types of damaged skin. Dr. Salome says: “For me it is a must-have cream when I go on holiday, as it works wonders for hydrating the skin after sunbathing and also for mosquito bites.” The product contains a mild local anaesthetic that helps soothe discomfort; it also forms a protective layer over the vulnerable area, which incidentally also reduces the risk of infection and helps the bites heal faster.
12. To soothe cracked heels
Sudocrem can do wonders to your dry, cracked heels. Applying a good, thick layer into your heels before bed means that the zinc oxide can work overnight while your skin cells regenerate and you will wake up with smoother and softer feet. Dr. Salome says: “My recommendation is to use it as a healing cream on certain parts of the body (dry patches, elbows, pimples and burns, etc) but not as a daily moisturiser.”
13. To help reduce the appearance of scars and stretch marks
Sudocrem works hard in healing skin but it can also aid to reduce the appearance of scars as well as those that choose to mask their stretch marks (although we must always remember that stretch marks are perfectly normal and that its very much a matter of personal choice if you are keen to reduce their appearance.)
Talk about a beauty multi-tasker.