Perhaps, according to a study in the March 2009 issue of the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology. The investigator-blinded study of 60 subjects questioned whether mild to moderate symptoms of eczema would be better alleviated with Albolene Moisturizing Cleanser ($11.49 for 12 oz., Drugstore.com) or prescription Mimyx (typically near $100). While the study was exclusively Albolene Moisturizing Cleanser versus Mimyx for mild eczema, it must be noted that each topical product was combined with use of a 0.1% triamcinolone cream for treatment of symptoms of moderate eczema.
In the study, fifty-nine of the sixty patients who completed the study were randomly assigned based on whether their eczema was mild or moderate, and the products were used on each patient on either one arm or one leg.
“After assessing the subjects at weeks one, two and four, there was improvement in both groups; however, there were no statistically significant differences between the subjects using the over-the-counter (OTC) formulation [Albolene] or the prescription moisturizer,” says Dr. Zoe Draelos, M.D., who pioneered the study.  According to the study, the individual patients also felt that Albolene and Mimyx performed comparably in terms of the healing of the eczema, when evaluating the redness, peeling, dryness, stinging, itching and overall assessment.
As such, if you have mild eczema and are currently using Mimyx, ask your dermatologist if switching to Albolene Moisturizing Cleanser is a viable option for you. Or, if you have moderate eczema and are using Mimyx and 0.1% triamcinolone cream, ask your dermatologist if switching to Albolene Moisturizing Cleanser and 0.1% triamcinolone cream is an option for you. Be sure to reference the 2009 Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology study by Dr. Draelos, and, as always, talk to your dermatologist before making any changes to your skin care regimen.