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My introduction to Dr. Pimple Popper (real name: Sandra Lee) was an exploding cyst video I’m still trying to scrub from my memory. Most of us associate the skincare expert with her can’t-look-away skin extractions. But one thing we tend to forget is that her expertise covers the gamut of obscure, acne-zapping facts to everyday tips. She also lives with eczema. So, we enlisted Dr. Lee for her expert tips, specifically, the best moisturizers for eczema.
Instead of sacrificing a long list of everyday habits, like say a hot shower, the dermatologist prefers making small adjustments. For instance, while most experts recommend taking lukewarm or even cold showers to avoid excess dryness, Dr. Lee says to simply “minimize the length” of them. “Most important for those of us with eczema is you want to minimize your showers,” she says. “For me, there’s no way I can take a cold shower. So I just take a very short, hot shower because the heat actually takes moisture from your skin.”
Her other small, but effective game-changer? Keep moisturizer inside the shower. “That’s key. It will change your life. Because what we do is when we take a shower is we get out and dry ourselves off. When you’re still damp…that’s when you want to put the moisturizer in,” she says. “Because it will bind that water to you. If you go out of the water and you’re still a little damp, it evaporates and pulls water from you. That’s why when you take a shower, you sometimes feel itchy after.”
When it comes to face cleansing specifically, it doesn’t matter whether you wash in or out of the shower. It really boils down to frequency. If you’re dealing with flaking, simply wash your face less. “Obviously, make sure it’s clean,” she says, “But do it when you feel like you need to–it can be just once a day. It can be just before you go to sleep.” Washing less can be especially effective for those with atopic dermatitis or eczema, but again, everyone’s cleansing routine is singular and should be approved by an expert if possible.
So what kind of moisturizer should you keep in the shower? In general, but especially for dryer skin types, Dr. Lee says to rely on creams instead of water-based lotions. “Creams are oil-based. Those of us who are dryer can tolerate heavy creams because they’re just more moisturizing. Even an ointment like Vaseline, we can tolerate that,” she says. Also, you don’t need to get fancy with your body moisturizers. In fact, Dr. Lee actually recommends a slew of drugstore staples if your eczema is flaring up. “Over the counters like CeraVe, Cetaphil, Dove, Eucerin; they all make really, good thick creams,” she says.
Grab any of these eczema-friendly moisturizers and stick it next to your body wash. You’ll be glad you did.
Murad.
Murad Eczema Control Quick Relief Colloidal Oatmeal Treatment
Soothe an eczema rash and dermatitis on the face, eyes and body with this ultra-gentle cream. It contains colloidal oatmeal, oat lipids and ground cherry for max comfort.
Gold Bond.
Gold Bond Cream for Eczema Relief Skin Protectant Cream With 2% Colloidal Oatmeal
Relieve the itching, dryness, scaling, roughness and redness associated with eczema with 2 percent colloidal oatmeal. This lotion is steroid-free formula and hypoallergenic for every day use.
Skinfix.
Skinfix Eczema+ Extra Strength Body Cream
This rich all-over body moisturizer is made with calming colloidal oatmeal and sweet almond oil.
Aveeno.
Aveeno Eczema Therapy Nighttime Itch Relief Balm
Use this non-greasy lotion made with soothing colloidal oatmeal to relieve itch at night so you can actually get some sleep.
CeraVe.
CeraVe Eye Repair Cream
For those dry, itchy patches around your eyes, use this calming cream made with moisturizing hyaluronic acid, calming niacinamide and ceramides to help restore the skin’s natural barrier.
Cetaphil.
Cetaphil Eczema Restoraderm Flare-Up Relief Cream
Cetaphil promises instant relief of itchy eczema flare-ups with this cream infused with 2 percent skin protectant colloidal oatmeal.
First Aid Beauty.
First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream Intense Hydration
Made without potentially harmful ingredients including fragrance, this top-seller is worthy of a higher price. Its formula includes colloidal oatmeal for calming inflammation, shea butter, and ceramides for hydration and a custom antioxidant booster for protection against future damage.
Curél.
Curél Itch Defense Calming Body Lotion
An advanced ceramide complex, pro-vitamin B5 and shea butter help this lotion soothe and calm the itch.
Eucerin.
Eucerin Eczema Relief Cream
Gentle enough for every member of the family, even babies, this eczema-specific formula is also made with ceramides for strengthening the skin’s barrier and natural oatmeal for calming irritation.
La Roche-Posay.
La Roche-Posay Lipikar Eczema Soothing Relief Cream
The National Eczema Association recommends this heavy cream, infused with lipids, for relieving itchiness and other symptoms of eczema.
Vaseline.
Vaseline Clinical Care Eczema Calming Therapy Cream
Calm red, itchy and irritated skin with the brand’s Barrier Repair Complex and colloidal oatmeal skin protectant.
Amazon.
Vanicream Moisturizing Skin Cream
This best-selling Amazon staple is a straight-forward, uncomplicated solution for red, irritated or itchy skin. Plus it’s been officially approved by the National Eczema Association and contains zero fragrances.
Burts Bees.
Burt’s Bees Sensitive Solutions Calming Night Cream
A blend of aloe, rice milk and honey calms and soothes sensitive skin, helping to reduce redness and restoring the skins moisture barrier.
Cortisone 10.
Cortizone-10 Intensive Healing Lotion for Eczema
1 percent hydrocortisone relives itch while vitamins A, C and E soothe the skin.
Welly.
Welly Eczema Body Cream
1 percent colloidal oatmeal skin protectant and 6.5 percent shea butter both hydrate and relive redness and itch due to eczema.
