Invaluable Element in the Clumsy Girl's Survival Kit (Savlon Antiseptic Cream)

Member Name: sweetiebum

Product:	Savlon Antiseptic Cream
Date:	24/09/09 (99 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Antibacterial

Disadvantages: Maybe the smell for some people

As a child I was particularly accident prone, to put it bluntly I was clumsy. In fact if you asked my partner he would say that things haven't changed much today! I'm forever banging into things, stubbing my toes, and being a danger to myself in general. Instead of trying to fix the cause of my clumsiness by paying more attention to what I am doing, I opt to have a well stocked first aid box covering every possible outcome. I like to be prepared and without doubt one of my main stays of my first aid box has to be Savlon Antiseptic Cream.

The Packaging:

Unlike some products, the Savlon branding and packaging have remained very much the same throughout the years. Savlon still comes in the very distinctive blue box with white writing and looks remarkably like the Savlon that I remember from my childhood. Inside the box the tube of cream fits snugly so there is no other unnecessary packaging. The tube has a screw cap which is fairly easy to unscrew. It is large enough so that if you should need to undo it with only one hand it is possible - I have even had occasion to test this theory out! Therefore if you need to apply this cream to an injury on your hand and no one else is about to help, it is not an impossible task.

Inside the Tube:

After unscrewing the cap, there is a large nozzle which allows a fair amount of cream to be squeezed out. The body of the tube is made out of a lightweight plastic which again makes the process of squeezing the cream out really easy. It is also easy to control the amount of cream that you require, so no unnecessary wastage. When the cream comes out of the tube it is very white with a slight sheen to it. As the nozzle of the tube is also white it can be difficult to differentiate between the tube and the cream.

After just squeezing out a tiny amount of cream the very unique smell can be quite overpowering. The smell is very difficult to describe but does smell antibacterial and quite cleansing. However, as it is quite a pungent smell it may not be for everybody. Personally, I find the smell quite comforting and get a real wave of nostalgia as it really does remind me of when I was a child.

Applying the cream:

What I like most, apart from the comforting smell of course is the fact that Savlon can be used for so many different 'minor skin disorders' without forgetting first aid uses as well. According to the box Savlon cream can be used for: cuts and grazes, insect bites and stings, minor burns and scalds, blisters and sores, chapped skin, nappy rash, spots and blackheads and sunburn amongst other ailments. Despite my clumsiness I have not had the opportunity to test out the cream on each and every one of these ailments but I will explain my experiences with the cream.

When I was a child my father would always use Savlon on the many cuts and grazes that I accrued whilst growing up. At the time I was always terrified that the cream would sting, and to be fair on some of the more serious cuts, it did initially sting a little. However, this soon passed and the cream actually helped to stop the pain. All of my cuts healed perfectly and I never once got an infection through them. I truly believe that Savlon was beneficial in the healing process.

More recently, I have had cause to use Savlon when I badly scalded my hand. I had accidently touched the hot plate on my oven and badly burned the tips of my fingertips. The burn was not serious enough to see a doctor but was serious enough that I had trouble using my hand for a couple of days. After immediately rushing to the sink I ran my hand under the cold tap and then sat with it for about half an hour in a sink full of cold water. This really helped numb the pain whilst my hand was in the water. However the second I took it out the pain became almost unbearable and seemed worse than it had done before I ran it under the tap.

As I was not lucky enough to be able to spend all day with my hand in the sink I had to find an alternative. Luckily my boyfriend was on hand and suggested Savlon. After liberally coating my fingers in the cream I could finally breathe a sigh of relief as the pain dulled significantly. Honestly, in this instance without Savlon I would have been in a lot more pain and I do not know how I would have been able to carry on my day. This instance has cemented my belief in the importance of being prepared!

Aside from first aid emergencies like this, I regularly use Savlon as a hand cream when I don't have any other to hand. I like how quickly it sinks into the skin and really does soothe it. If my skin is particularly chapped and sore I know I can trust it to not sting or burn when it is applied. The antibacterial properties are also reassuring and give you peace of mind against getting an infection.

Conclusion

Overall, I would truly recommend Savlon to everybody. I was initially worried that I would not use it all up before the sell by date but the fact that it has so many uses makes it a worthwhile purchase. Savlon is available in three sizes, 15g, 30g and the larger 60g and the prices range accordingly. I usually opt for the 30g which costs around £1.70. For me and the peace of mind I get from having it in the cupboard, the price is very good value for money. After my recent accident I will definitely ensure that I always have some in the house just in case!

Summary: A main stay of my first aid box.