6 Skin-Care Ingredients to Add to Your Routine If You Have Eczema

Dry skin is caused by a combination of things — dehydration, environmental stressors, vitamin deficiencies, the list goes on. But there’s a skin condition that causes inflamed, itchy skin. It’s called eczema. According to the National Eczema Association, one in 10 Americans will get eczema at some point in their lives (peaking in early childhood), and there are currently 31.6 million Americans living with it. The bottom line: eczema is real and very common.

But what exactly causes eczema? “Eczema triggers are highly variable and may include anything from stress, irritating substances, environmental exposures, illness, and allergies — both food and seasonal,” says Rachel Maiman, a board-certified cosmetic and general dermatologist. In short, those with eczema have a hyperactive immune system that responds to one or several triggers by producing inflammation resulting in red, itchy, flaky skin that may crack or bleed.

When the barrier’s integrity is compromised, moisture is allowed to escape and microbes are more feasibly allowed to enter, which predisposes to infection. For those with a more intrinsic form of eczema, it is a result of a mutation in the gene responsible for creating filaggrin, a protein integral to preserving the integrity of the skin barrier, says Maiman.

The good news is you can topically heal the affected skin and prevent flares of symptoms. Here are six ingredients that help soothe, calm and, in some cases, prevent eczema from wreaking havoc on your skin.

Petrolatum

Petrolatum (or petroleum jelly, derived from petroleum) is a thick emollient that helps prevent 99 percent of water loss from your skin. By keeping water locked in the damaged outer layers where it is deficient, the skin is much more capable of repairing that barrier. As for that 1 percent of water left to escape?

“Petrolatum is very useful because it’s important that the skin not be sealed completely for long periods,” says Maiman. “Some water loss is key because it signals a feedback mechanism that triggers the production of the lipids (fats) that can be thought of as the bricks of a skin barrier reminiscent of brick and mortar.”

Apply directly on breakouts after bathing or throughout the day if itching occurs.

Vaseline Original Unscented Petroleum Jelly is pure petrolatum with no added scents, fragrances, or ingredients. For a convenient, mess-free application, try Vaseline All-Over Body Balm Jelly Stick, a stick that's great for targeting stubborn eczema patches and hard-to-reach areas.

Colloidal Oatmeal

Colloidal oatmeal is a natural ingredient that’s proven to be beneficial in both treating and relieving the symptoms of eczema. “Oatmeal is an emollient, which helps moisturize the skin by protecting the skin barrier and providing moisture to the skin,” says Orit Markowitz, a New York City-based board-certified dermatologist. “It is also an anti-inflammatory, which targets and helps treat inflammation and redness.”

Markowitz recommends those with eczema to bathe in oatmeal, but you can also find the ingredient within skin-care products, including body washes and moisturizers, and use them as needed.

Markowitz’s favorite is Aveeno's Soothing Bath Treatment because the powder substance forms a milky bath soak, providing temporary skin protection.

Humectants

The name of the game when dealing with eczema is to stay hydrated. Humectants help the skin retain moisture by attracting water molecules from lower cell layers like a magnet, making them useful in managing dry, dehydrated, and irritated skin in need of barrier repair. If the humidity is over 70 percent, humectants can draw water vapor from the air to help moisturize the skin, says Maiman.

“Humectants also encourage the shedding of dead skin cells by breaking down the proteins that hold the cells together,” says Maiman. Consequently, they can improve the sensation and appearance of flaky skin and skin that has become thickened secondary to inflammation, scratching, or rubbing, which is commonly seen in people with chronic eczema.”

There are two types of humectants that are primary players: synthetic and natural. Synthetic humectants include ingredients like propylene glycol, urea, glycerin, and lactic acid in low concentrations, which are commonly found in beauty products; but, when used in excess, they can interfere with the body's mechanisms of self-hydration, potentially drying skin over the long term.

Alternatively, natural humectants draw moisture from the bottom skin layers to the surface while enhancing the skin's hydrating abilities. The most commonly incorporated natural humectant to look for in a moisturizer is hyaluronic acid, says Maiman.

Avène XeraCalm A.D Lipid-Replenishing Cream offers a postbiotic complex that helps rebalance the skin’s microbiome while supporting its natural defense system. In addition to glycerin, it’s rich in omega-6 fatty acids, which soothe and calm dry, itchy skin.

Ceramides

Ceramides are fat molecules found in the top layer of our skin that help protect and keep our skin moisturized. Atopic skin is inherently compromised by deficiencies in ceramides, components of skin’s natural protective barrier, says New York City-based board-certified dermatologist Julie Russak.

This leads to increased trans-epidermal water loss and xerosis, another scientific term for dry skin. Replenishing these ceramides allow for the rebuilding of the skin’s own protective barrier. It’s also worth noting that those with eczema have fewer ceramides in their skin, which means their skin isn’t getting ample moisture. But don’t fret, you can make up for lost ceramides with over-the-counter moisturizers.

First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream Intense Hydration is a game-changer in terms of ceramide repair. “Not only does it contain ceramides, but it has colloidal oatmeal, so you are getting a product packed with [powerful] ingredients,” says Markowitz.

Virgin Coconut Oil

Coconut oil continues to be the superfood that’s great for baking foods and moisturizing our skin. It’s a natural oil processed from a coconut kernel, which contains lauric acid, a fatty acid that promotes and increases antimicrobial activity that helps reduce bacteria and other infections and conditions of the skin.

“Virgin coconut oil can increase skin capacitance, reduce transepidermal water loss, and help repair skin barrier function,” says David Petrillo, a cosmetic chemist. “Generally speaking, virgin coconut is an excellent moisturizer, anti-inflammatory, and provides many antibacterial properties, yet is very gentle on the skin.”

On the flip side, Maiman explains that since coconut oil isn’t a humectant, it doesn’t deliver moisture to the skin like other moisturizers. “There are some precautions that need to be taken when considering the use of coconut oil,” she says. “First, it's comedogenic, so it can precipitate acne in those who are acne-prone. Also, because people with eczema have a greater predilection to have food allergies and may even develop these in adulthood, an allergic reaction could theoretically be triggered by application (though this would not be a common occurrence).” That being said, when using coconut oil, consult with your dermatologist beforehand if you are acne-prone or have food allergies.

Niacinamide

Walk down any beauty aisle and you’re guaranteed to spot a vitamin C product on almost every shelf. But vitamin C isn’t the only water-soluble vitamin that promotes healthy skin. Niacinamide is a form of vitamin B3, which aids in preventing permeability and locks in moisture while reducing irritation and protecting against wrinkles, hyperpigmentation, and fine lines.

Another major benefit of the ingredient is that it’s an anti-inflammatory and has the ability to reduce inflammatory cytokines, proteins that are released by immune cells in response to certain reactions or conditions.

CeraVe Facial Moisturizing Lotion PM traps moisture, hydrates the skin, and repairs the skin barrier and is best for those wanting to stay moisturized for longer periods of time.

Originally Appeared on Allure