The 7 Best Eczema Creams You Can Buy, According to Dermatologists
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As someone with a chronic skin condition, I'm deeply familiar with the frustration of trying every so-called solution out there, only to still be confronted with skin that refuses to cooperate. When you have eczema, that means your skin feels dry, itchy, and rough, and unfortunately, there are some common skincare ingredients that just make the situation worse. On the flip side, finding the right cream can make a world of difference, so we reached out to dermatologists for the specific products they recommend.
"The key in any eczema cream is to find a gentle, hypoallergenic product," says Ife Rodney, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and founder of Maryland's Eternal Dermatology. "When it comes to eczema and skin creams, it's essential to pat your skin dry (and not completely dry your skin), so there's still moisture, then apply large amounts of a gentle moisturizer to your skin."
Rodney adds that these should be "hydrophilic," meaning they melt into your skin and bond with the water left behind to reinforce the protective skin barrier. You want to avoid fragrances, dyes, and other allergenic ingredients, she says; meanwhile, ingredients like ceramides and colloidal oatmeal will make your skin feel its best, as board-certified dermatologist Julie Russak, MD, previously told Real Simple.
Vanicream Moisturizer
"This cream delivers hydration without any frills in a non-greasy, easy-to-spread formulation that absorbs quickly," says Christine Choi Kim, MD, a Los Angeles board-certified dermatologist. "It soothes red, irritated, itchy skin and is ideal for dry, sensitive, and eczema-prone skin." Also working in its favor? The drugstore hero is non-comedogenic so it won't clog pores, and it's free of common allergens like dyes, lanolin, parabens, gluten, botanical extracts, essential oils, formaldehyde, and fragrance. Take it from Amazon reviewers dealing with severe eczema who say it "improved drastically" within a day.
La Roche-Posay Lipikar Balm AP+ Intense Repair Body Cream
"The one I love and recommend the most is the La Roche Posay Lipikar Balm AP+ moisturizer," Dr. Rodney says. "Shea butter boosts skin moisture and has antioxidants, while glycerin is excellent for retaining moisture. Nicotinamide is anti-inflammatory, and reduces the irritation and redness caused by eczema." Dr. Choi Kim adds that the formula's prebiotic thermal water makes the Lipikar Balm a great find, since the ingredient promotes a balanced skin microbiome, which she says is an important component of healthy skin.
Rodan and Fields Soothe Moisturizing Rescue Cream
"This is a nourishing, rich cream that delivers deep hydration and calms dry, itchy eczema-prone skin," Dr. Choi Kim explains. "The key ingredient is 1 percent over-the-counter colloidal oatmeal, which has known anti-inflammatory properties to relieve redness and itching, plus seven essential ceramides that help to strengthen the skin's moisture barrier. It is fragrance-free, non-comedogenic and clinically tested on sensitive skin." For reference, CeraVe's beloved Moisturizing Cream has three ceramides—so Rodan + Field's lotion is well worth the cost.
CeraVe Eczema-Relief Creamy Oil
Speaking of CeraVe, the gold-standard drugstore brand has its own dermatologist-recommended eczema savior. "I like the cream consistency, [and] since it's oil-based, it's much easier to apply. It contains ceramides and colloidal oatmeal, which is great for protecting the skin barrier," Dr. Rodney says. "What sets it apart is the added hyaluronic acid, which is part of our body's natural moisturizer. Hyaluronic acid locks in existing moisture, and also draws moisture from the environment to keep your skin from drying out."
Aveeno Eczema Therapy Daily Moisturizing Cream
Dr. Rodney agrees that if you have tough-to-treat eczema, colloidal oatmeal will be your best friend. "Not only is colloidal oatmeal anti-inflammatory, but it also reinforces the protective barrier and even has UV protection. This cream also has moisture-locking ingredients like ceramides and glycerin to work alongside the colloidal oatmeal." You also get a healthy amount of product for the price, which is great news for people who see "miraculous" results from it.
Aveeno Eczema Therapy Itch Relief Balm
"Another Aveeno product that works well is the Eczema Therapy Itch Relief Balm," Dr. Rodney says. "While this also has colloidal oatmeal, it's a thicker, denser consistency that helps seal moisture for longer. This is great for spot treatments or when your skin is particularly itchy." That might be why the balm is sold out on Amazon — but fear not, the popular product is still available at retailers like Walmart, where shoppers rave about the instantaneous relief it provides.
Vaseline Petroleum Jelly
Is there anything Vaseline can't do? Because according to Dr. Rodney, it's an under-the-radar winner for people with eczema. "Vaseline is great for eczema skin, and comes as a surprise recommendation to most of my patients. It really comes down to how the Vaseline is used," she says. Instead of using it as a standalone treatment, she suggests it as a protective barrier on top of your moisturizer. It especially makes a difference for hands: "Placing Vaseline on top of the moisturizer creates a thin barrier [that's] great for retaining the moisture that we're losing from overwashing or hand sanitizer due to COVID-19. This removes the Vaseline layers, and not the moisturizer itself."
