Sudocrem is a staple in every Irish home, and used for everything from nappy rashes, scrapes, spots and other minor ailments.

The thick white cream with its unique lavender scent sells some 34 million tubs a year, so it’s not only us that relies on the healing cream, but it’s sold as far away as Puerto Rica in South America.

There, it’s called something different, and also in Belgium, but have you ever wondered where it got its unusual name? It’s a strange one because Sudocrem was never supposed to what it is called.

Sudocrem Origins

An early version of the ointment from the last century Pic: Supplied

In 1931, a pharmacist named Thomas Smith created Sudocrem in his shop on the Old Cabra Road in Dublin. A homemade mix of ingredients, it was originally called Smith’s Baby Cream, and the innovative chemist used to give pots of the potion to new mothers in maternity hospitals in the city.

It wasn’t until the 1950’s that Sudocrem became famous for treating ulcers, pimples, sunburn and all sorts of skin eruptions. And somewhere along the way, Smith’s Baby Cream lost the baby, and was called Soothing Cream, as it was suitable for the family.

Soothing Cream

A mini tub of Polish Sudocrem Pic: Shutterstock

Only in Dublin will you hear mangled versions of real words like hostipul (hospital), Facebuke (Facebook), delira (delighted) and tik (stupid). It seems that Dubliners somehow transformed Soothing Cream into Sudo Creem, except that’s not very catchy.

So, the name Sudocrem was what it became, and sorry to say this, but it’s pronounced Sudo- Crem, except that Dubliners will never ever say it that way, it will be Sudo-Cream forever. But, in Puerto Rica and Belgium it has another name, here’s why.

Dermocrem

The OG cream and with its other name Pic: Shutterstock

Sudocrem sells 34m tubs, tins and pots of Sudocrem each year, but in those two countries it’s called Dermocrem. It’s rumoured that the proper name for the nappy rash cream is a bit of a rude one when translated, but having checked that out, there doesn’t seem to be an explanation.

What we do know is that the Middle East is its biggest importer, and that all our ex-pats in Canada and Australia can get their hands on Sudocrem should they have a mishap or spot that needs a little healing. You can be sure as anything that some pharmacist in Sydney is being asked for it in the Dublin version of how you pronounce it and is scratching their heads wondering what it is.