Looking after two big horses with pink noses (prone to sunburn) and white socks (prone to mud fever) was a year-round challenge for us.

During summer, in spite of using sun guards on their noses, their white nose and lips were still getting burnt . Sunblocks we tried didn’t survive being rubbed off on grass while grazing or washed off while drinking.

In winter, it felt like mud fever was a constant battle we couldn’t win. The horses clearly found the mud fever painful, especially having the scabs removed. Various remedies to treat mud fever were never that great. We tried pretty much everything on the market but nothing worked well at all.

So, we decided to make our own balm!

Now this may sound a little ambitious but it actually made sense. My wife, Teresa is a medical doctor (Cosmetic Physician), a skin expert with her own skincare product range called FaceWorks (faceworks.co.nz). Teresa researched “mud fever” and found it has a lot in common with the eczema she frequently saw patients with.

With eczema in humans and mud fever in horses, essentially the barrier function of the skin is reduced, in the horses’ case, by either chronically wet skin and/or minor abrasions from sand or dirt/mud. If the integrity of the skin is disrupted, it becomes irritated and inflamed, forming crusty lesions, diagnosed as “eczema”.   When the skin is unable to function as a barrier, it is easy for various bacteria (Staphylococcus spp. and Dermatophilus congolensis) and fungi to infect the areas of broken skin, causing swelling, inflammation and pain.

We wanted something to soften and painlessly remove the mud fever scabs while reducing the inflammatory response and helping the affected skin to heal.   The product also had to provide good sun protection. This meant it had to really “stick” not only to lips and noses but to the lower legs even in rain and wet grass.   We also wanted it to be as “natural” as possible, in line with the rest of our FaceWorks skin care range.

Having developed two very effective and very popular sunblocks for the FaceWorks skincare range (Environmental Protector SPF30 and FaceWorks Primer SPF30), it was a logical step to take the same technology and expertise and apply it to our horses.  

The result is “Fix-it Cream SPF25”.

The essential ingredient in Fix-it Cream SPF25 is zinc – a naturally occurring mineral which not only functions as a broad-spectrum sunblock (protecting against UVA and UVB) but also has anti-microbial and anti-fungal properties.  The moisturising base containing silicone, softens scabs so they can literally be gently and painlessly rubbed off, and the Fix-it Cream then acts as a waterproof barrier cream.  We added Aloe vera and Vitamin E to soothe and help heal inflamed skin.

The days of trying to remove extensive areas of mud fever scabs from our unhappy ponies are long gone.  At the first sign of a tiny patch of mud fever we rub in some Fix-it Cream, 24 hours later the scabs will gently rub off and that seems to stop it in its tracks.  And no more sunburned noses or lips – this cream absolutely sticks!!

Fix-it Cream SPF25 is your new tack box essential for all year round. With chemical-free sun protection in an antimicrobial and moisturising base, this general-purpose cream is your new ‚ “go-to” general purpose fix-it cream, summer or winter.

Over winter, we all know how difficult and distressing mud-fever and rain scald can be. Fix-it Cream SPF25 is very effective at softening and removing the scabs associated with mud fever while its antimicrobial properties help to treat the underlying cause. Aloe vera and Vitamin E soothe and help to heal. In summer, Fix-it Cream SPF25 can be safely applied to delicate white noses and ears, white socks and the bulbs of the hoof, to help prevent sunburn. Fix it Cream SPF25 stays put much longer than most other sunscreens, even with grazing.

All year round, Fix-it Cream SPF25 is the perfect cream to soothe and help heal minor cuts and grazes.  No chemical sunscreens, no PABA, no synthetic fragrance. Contains zinc, Aloe vera and Vitamin E. Waterproof. Complies with AS/NZS 2604:2012 SPF testing.
Buy now – you’ll wonder how you managed without it!

How to Use:
Mud Fever: Apply liberally to mud fever scabs and massage in gently. Leave for 24 hours then gently remove softened scabs. Repeat daily as necessary.
For rain scald, daily application is strongly recommended.
If swelling or inflammation is present, a vet consultation is recommended in case of secondary bacterial infection.

Sun Protection:
Apply liberally and rub in well to sun exposed areas. Repeat as necessary. Additional sun protection (nose/ear guards) and the provision of shade are also recommended.