If You Have Eczema, Look For This One Ingredient In Lotion
Eczema is usually at its worst in fall and winter, and often takes some time to relieve, but advanced formulations can now be found over the counter to help treat and prevent flare-ups from forming.
“The word eczema actually is an umbrella term that refers to a group of skin conditions characterized by inflammation of the skin with redness and itching,” says Bradley Bloom, MD, a dermatologist at Laser & Skin Surgery Center of New York. “While it is sometimes used synonymously with atopic eczema (a condition that starts in infancy and is associated with other atopic conditions like asthma and food allergies), the term eczema also includes conditions like contact dermatitis (eczema from things our skin comes in contact with, either allergic or irritant) and Dyshidrotic eczema (characterized by small clear blisters on the palms and soles of the fingers and toes that are typically very itchy).”
With atopic eczema, the main issue is the disruption in the barrier function of the skin, meaning our bodies are less able to keep moisture in and the bad stuff (like irritants, allergens, and bacteria) out. Because restoring the barrier function of the skin is critical, you want to look for a moisturizer that helps maintain the barrier of the skin,” says Bloom. Avoid products with fragrances and formaldehyde, and if your skin is super sensitive, Bloom suggests avoiding creams with lactic or glycolic acid, because they can make your skin sting.
When on the hunt for an effective eczema-relief lotion, look for formulas with ceramides. “Ceramide-containing products are ideal for optimizing barrier repair because ceramides are lipids that are essential for the barrier function of the skin,” says Bloom. Products with colloidal oatmeal, shea butter, and niacinamide are also helpful, too.
Almost all backed by the National Eczema Association, these 10 eczema-relief lotions below will help you avoid the itch all season long.
1. Best Buy: St. Ives Softening Body Lotion Cocoa Butter and Vanilla Bean
Fragrance can be irritating to sensitive, eczema-prone skin, but dermatologist Joshua Zeichner, MD makes an exception for this lotion. “Cocoa butter is an ultra hydrating and protecting ingredient used by itself or as an ingredient in moisturizers,” says Zeichner.
2. Best Multipurpose: Vaseline Skin Protectant
“One of the best topicals for eczema is Vaseline (or petroleum) ointment," says dermatologist Evan Rieder, MD. "Though it can be greasy, nothing protects the skin like it. One tip I give to my patients who are really suffering from itchy, dry skin or eczema is to apply Vaseline to their arms and legs before they go to bed and wrap with socks and gloves or Saran wrap. The occlusive barrier allows the skin to recover through the night and alleviates concerns about getting work clothing messy during the days.”
3. Best Drugstore: CeraVe Daily Moisturizing Lotion For Normal to Dry Skin
“Ceramides (fatty molecules that hold in moisture) are like the mortar between skin cell tiles in the outer skin layer," says Zeichner. "When the mortar is deficient, the skin can more easily lose hydration. This lotion helps replenish those ceramides.”
4. Best For Itchy Skin: Dove DermaSeries Eczema Relief Soothing Body Lotion
“It’s great for instantly relieving dry, itchy, inflamed skin," says Rieder. "The hypoallergenic-, steroid-, and fragrance-free formula is perfect for daily use and is clinically proven to reduce the intensity and frequency of itchy episodes.”
5. Best For Repairing Skin: Cetaphil PRO Restoraderm Gentle Body Moisturizer
“Formulated with advanced ceramide and filaggrin technology, a protein in the skin that helps strengthen the skin barrier, this moisturizer is clinically proven to restore and improve the skin’s ability to retain vital moisture, leaving eczema and atopic-prone skin feeling soft, smooth and healthy,” says Dendy Engelman, MD, New York City-based dermatological surgeon.
6. Most Calming: Aveeno Eczema Therapy Itch Relief Balm
“Colloidal oatmeal helps coat and protect the skin to allow the skin to repair itself," says Zeichner. "The rich consistency is great for people with extra dry skin and is great during the winter.”
7. Best For All Skin Types: Kiehl's Creme de Corps
“For dry, chapped, and irritated skin, it’s really important to minimize fragrance," says Rieder. "This is a hydrating moisturizing cream without a greasy feel or a significant fragrance component. It’s great for generally dry skin and also for people with eczema. It also comes in a variety of vehicles—creams, oils, lotions, and body butter—allowing people to customize the product to their skin type.”
8. Best Long Lasting: La Roche-Posay Lipikar Moisturizing Lotion
“Formulated with thermal spring water, this lotion not only hydrates, but can also help promote a healthy microbiome on the skin,” explains Zeichner. It's also formulated with glycerin, niacinamide and shea butter to help retain moisture and hydrate the skin all day long.
9. Best Immediate Relief: First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream Intense Hydration
“The First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream is FDA-approved as an over the counter treatment for eczema, and is safe for even the most sensitive skin,” explains Engelman. “Formulated with soothing ingredients like colloidal oatmeal and shea butter, it provides immediate relief and visible improvement for dry skin and it is clinically proven to increase hydration by 169 percent immediately upon application.”
10. Best Splurge: SkinMedica Dermal Repair Cream
“Ongoing moisture loss impairs the skin’s barrier function and can exacerbate conditions like dermatitis, eczema, and rosacea," says Engelman, "but the Dermal Repair Cream contains high levels of antioxidant vitamins C and E, along with highly effective moisturizing ingredients like sodium hyaluronate, to provide that much needed hydration."
11. Best Multitasker: Mustela Stelatopia Emollient Cream
Just because Mustela is targeted towards babies and soon-to-be mothers, doesn’t mean you can’t reap all its skin-saving benefits, too. This emollient cream uses sunflower oil and avocado to supply essential lipids while relieving itch.
12. Best Texture: Skinfix Barrier + Lipid-Boost Body Cream
Loaded with moringa, shea butter, sweet almond, jojoba and grapeseed oils, plus ceramides 1, 3 and 6, this luxe body cream goes beyond the typical eczema cream ingredients for a super rich, hydrating finish.
13. Best For Severely Sensitive Skin: Avène Eau Thermale XeraCalm A.D Lipid-Replenishing Cream
Best known for its wide range of products suited for sensitive skin, Avène uses thermal spring water to help soothe and calm irritated, itchy skin as well as ceramides to help restore the skin's barrier.
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