I posted a while ago in this thread (http://www.network54.com/Forum/244184/thread/1304743922/last-1306188107/Progress+and+new+developments.+What+could+this+mean- ) and I would have continued it there except that it's now locked. If you need the back-story, that's where it is.

I know I tend to be long winded and overly analytic so I'll get right to the point: You guys recommended zinc and castor oil for me and I've searched in many stores and I can't find it. I went to the baby section and there's lots of products for treating diaper rash that contain zinc oxide but I can't find anything with both zinc and castor oil. The only stuff I could find that has both ingredients I found on the internet and I would have to order it from Europe (I live in Canada).

So my question is: How important is it that the cream contain both zinc AND castor oil?

It's a very concerning situation when everything is marketed except the simple, cheap and effective products - but that is after all, the "holy grail" of North American marketing, isn't it?

OK, the Zinc Oxide is the drying and antiseptic agent which inhibits thrush and other fungi. The Castor Oil is primarily a quite effective waterproofing agent. Many other heavy oils would presumably substitute; Castor Oil is of course a vegetable rather than a mineral oil.

So there is no immense "magic" in the particular combination. If you select another product containing Zinc Oxide that is readily available, the trick in working against the marketing hype, is to choose one that has the absolute minimum of other ingredients than the Zinc Oxide and the oil, particularly detergents (which you can generally determine from Wikipedia) and perfumes.

Why any such product should contain a detergent anyway beggars the imagination, but I'll wager that a few do!

I actually bought one when I was out. It wasn't exactly what I was looking for (zinc and castor oil) but I figured I might as well try it. It's called Sudocremhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sudocrem . I've been using it for a couple weeks now but I'm also still using the Q-tips as well. Using both I'm now able to retract my foreskin all the way, even when erect. It's still a little tight but it doesn't get stuck behind the glans. But the thing is, if I leave the Q-tips out, even for a few hours, it starts getting macerated pretty quick. The Sudocrem seems to slow the process but doesn't stop it from happening.

Sorry for the double post but I really do want your opinion on this. Is this Sudocrem stuff any good or should I order the proper stuff (Zinc and Castor oil) online?

The ingredients are:
Excipients 79.2% water-repellent base
Zinc oxide, EP 15.25% astringent, soothing, protective
Lanolin (hypoallergenic) 4.00% emollient
Benzyl benzoate, BP 1.01% pesticide
Benzyl alcohol, BP 0.39% mild anesthetic, disinfectant
Benzyl cinnamate 0.15% antibacterial, antifungal

I feel like I'm so close to solving this problem. I just want to get it over with and have a healthy foreskin again.

Well, you would tend to think that if it is OK for babies, it should be OK for you. I daresay it is worth trying and is not likely to cause harm.

I just find it difficult to figure why you would need an insecticide or the other (last) two ingredients, which may be irritating to some people.