Unlikely $8 Coles product praised as cheap skin treatment: 'Works for me'

Parents of young children will likely be familiar with Sudocrem — a zinc-based emollient cream sold at most supermarkets and pharmacies, commonly used to help with nappy rashes. Though widely distributed in Australia, the cream actually originated in Ireland nearly 100 years ago, and was designed specifically as a nappy rash treatment.

But now in an era where beauty hacks and tricks spread like wildfire on social media, Sudocrem — which typically retails for about $8 for a 30g tube or $14 for a 125g tub — has been praised as an affordable treatment for a wide range of skin conditions, including acne, eczema, perioral dermatitis and even minor lesions such as cuts and burns.

Some have even taken it as far as wearing a thick layer of nappy rash cream on their face overnight as a mask, claiming it’s the only product that has cured their breakouts and skin flare-ups.

However, skin experts say that while Sudocrem can be beneficial for spot treatments, you might actually be doing more damage to your skin when using it regularly, particularly as a face mask.

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“Sudocrem contains zinc oxide, which creates a protective barrier over the skin, helping to soothe and protect irritated or inflamed skin,” dermatologist Dr Hamdan Abdullah Hamed told Yahoo Lifestyle. “While it may dry out acne lesions due to its zinc oxide and mild antiseptic properties, it's not typically recommended as a long-term acne treatment.”

So is the Sudocrem hack completely a fad, or are there some benefits for skin conditions when used correctly?

Claims nappy rash cream clears skin overnight

In a recent viral TikTok video, creator Leah Beth shared how she sleeps in a Sudocrem mask overnight for clear skin, revealing before and after shots of how it cleared up her acne.

“I stan Sudocrem,” she wrote in the caption. “This is one of my favourite products ever and I’ve been using it this way since I was a kid. Idk why or how it works (for me), but it does.”

“Works for me too!!!” a fellow Sudocrem convert commented on the video. “Love it.”

“Literally the only thing to get rid of my eczema,” another wrote.

Hundreds of other creators have also taken to the app to share their results from wearing a Sudocrem mask, including Aussie makeup artist Rae Morris who said that her skin’s “bumpiness” had completely disappeared after two consecutive nights of wearing the cream to bed.

Despite these claims, Dr Hamed advised against using the nappy cream as an overnight face mask, no matter your skin type.

“While the cream can soothe irritated areas, its thick, occlusive nature may clog pores and lead to breakouts, especially in individuals with oily or acne-prone skin,” he explained. “It’s better to use it as a spot treatment rather than covering the entire face.”

Cosmetic chemist Mandy Hawtin also told Yahoo Lifestyle that it was inadvisable to use nappy cream as a mask on acne-prone skin. In saying that, she said a small application could help those with very dry or inflamed areas.

How to safely incorporate Sudocrem into a skincare routine

“Generally, I wouldn’t recommend Sudocrem as part of a regular skincare routine,” Hawtin elaborated. “It’s designed for babies’ nappy areas, where a rich barrier is needed to protect sensitive skin.

“Adults with extremely dry, irritated skin might find temporary relief thanks to the zinc oxide, which helps reduce redness, and the oily base, which provides moisture. However, most people would be better served by products specifically formulated for their skin’s needs.”

But the advice surrounding the Sudocrem hack is not necessarily linear. Sydney dermatologist Dr Shreya Andric discussed the product on a Sunrise segment earlier this year and said it actually does work for acne-prone skin.

“If you have a breakout, it’s not necessarily something that’s going to treat your acne, but it will help to soothe it, take that redness out of the skin and help it to heal a little bit quicker than it would otherwise,” Dr Andric noted.

Contrary to Dr Hamed’s advice, she also said nappy cream won’t clog your pores.

“It’s what we call non-comedogenic which means it doesn't block pores, which is why it's good for acne-prone skin,” she added. “You could use a thinner layer and put a moisturiser on top, go to sleep and you'll wake up beautiful.”

There are also some other ways that you can incorporate Sudocrem or nappy cream into your skincare routine that don’t involve wearing it overnight. If used as a spot treatment, Dr Hamed said to apply sparingly to affected areas, and always follow with a light, non-comedogenic moisturiser to maintain hydration without clogging pores.

As zinc-based creams act as a barrier, they form a protective layer that prevents moisture loss and shields skin from external irritants. As such, those with dry skin could also use something like Sudocrem to lock in the moisture provided by your existing skincare ingredients.

Word of warning about Sudocrem use

“I would advise applying a lightweight, hydrating moisturiser first and letting it fully absorb before adding a thin layer of Sudocrem to lock in moisture overnight,” Dr Hamed noted. “This can be beneficial for very dry skin, but those with oily or acne-prone skin should avoid this method.”

However, Hawtin wouldn’t actually recommend this technique. While Sudocrem does act as a barrier and helps prevent transepidermal water loss, she said it was an unnecessary step if you’re already using proper skincare products.

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“I wouldn’t recommend layering it over moisturisers to ‘lock them in’,” she said. “Doing so is akin to wrapping your face in cling film — unnecessary and likely to trap excess oil, leading to congestion. High-quality skincare products are designed to be effective on their own and don’t need a heavy barrier like Sudocrem on top.”

On that note, it’s probably best to leave the nappy rash creams to babies’ bottoms. However, if you are keen to try Sudocrem as part of your skincare, remember to use it sparingly — and only as a spot treatment, not as an overnight mask.

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