What is the Best Eczema Cream

People who suffer from eczema know how important it is to find a soothing eczema cream. Eczema is also called Atopic Dermatitis. People who suffer from eczema are said to have atopic skin.

There are many body creams on the market for the atopic skin seen in eczema, but many of these creams do not have the proper ratio or types of lipids to repair the skin barrier and they do not have the desired maltese cross pattern found in the best barrier repair moisturizers. We will discuss the best eczema creams to soothe itchy dry skin.

To learn more about complete eczema skincare routines, visit here.

To find the best skin care routine for your face, you need to choose products according to your Baumann Skin Type.

The cleanser and moisturizer you choose to use on your skin can have a profound effect on your eczema. It is essential to use a gentle eczema cleanser and a lipid filled barrier repair moisturizer to soothe, hydrate and calm the inflammation caused by eczema. Look for anti inflammatory ingredients that soothe and calm skin like:

Argan oil

Artemisia capillaris

Bisabolol

Polyphenols

Fatty acids

If you have mild eczema, you can try our eczema skincare routine suggestions below to see if you can control eczema naturally. If you do not improve within 3-4 weeks, see your dermatologist or one of our skin care specialists.

It’s important to discuss eczema cream prescription options with your dermatologist, but here’s the advice we give to our patients:

In order for an eczema cream to be effective, it must strengthen the skin barrier.

Many creams claim to strengthen the skin barrier, but few are proven. You can read more about skin barrier repair moisturizers here.

There are three types of eczema cream: barrier repair creams that soothe and hydrate the skin; over-the-counter, medicated eczema creams; or prescription-only eczema creams. The type of moisturizing cream that will be best for you depends on the severity of your symptoms. The type of fatty acids found in the moisturizing cream will also make a difference. You can learn more about fatty acids in moisturizers and oils here.

The best moisturizing creams to treat atopic dermatitis contain fatty acid laden lipids to hydrate skin. These hydrating creams soothe skin and decrease itching. Look out for eczema creams that contain ceramides, stearic acid (a hydrating fatty acid), and cholesterol. Oils are a great source of fatty acids. The key is that barrier repair creams must have the correct ratio of lipids to be effective. If the lipid ratios are off, the moisturizer can actually make eczema worse.

The best eczema creams that have the correct ratio of lipids show a maltese cross pattern when viewed under a cross polarized microscope. A multilamellar emulsion that contains layers of lipids that mimic your skin’s natural skin barrier, make the same pattern under the microscope that you see in normal skin lipids. Eczema cream and moisturizing creams for psoriasis work better to help skin retain water when they display this maltese cross pattern.

The Zerafite skin care brand uses barrier repair technology from South Korea that display this maltese cross pattern. Zerafite has a cleanser, several face creams, an eye cream, and body cream (sold out) that are all safe to use in eczema.

Here are some other barrier repair body moisturizers for eczema:

Eczema first causes dehydrated skin which leads to inflammation. In susceptible skin types, such as darker skin types, post inflammatory hyperpigmentation can occur. Using body and face creams that prevent inflammation can help prevent pigmentation.

If your skin is red and inflamed, choose soothing barrier repair moisturizers that contain ingredients like argan oil that have anti-inflammatory effects.

Zerafite Barrier Repair Moisturizer is the best eczema cream that is safe for eczema-prone skin. Choose it if you have dry skin, itching and scaling but no inflammation. This hydrating eczema cream replenishes lost lipids and soothes and nourishes the skin- leaving it moist and hydrated. This eczema cream is a gentle cream that contains soothing niacinamide in addition to many beneficial fatty acids. Niacinamide works in conjunction with the mutilamellar emulsion technology to strengthen the skin barrier by increasing ceramide and fatty acid levels in the skin, as well as retaining moisture.

If your skin has inflammation from eczema with patches and plaques that are pink or red, then you have skin inflammation. The best face cream to calm inflammation when you have atopic dermatitis is Zerafite Soothing and Calming Moisturizer. This soothing barrier cream is perfect for eczema because it has grape seed oil, glycerin, that also hydrate skin. This rich cream also contains soothing argan oil and niacinamide help to reduce inflammation and calm skin. Argan oil in particular is a key anti-inflammatory ingredient, which makes Zerafite Soothing and Calming Moisturizer an ideal calming cream for use on the face.

Another eczema cream for the face uses a technology called Physiology Lipid or PSL Technology. This is a light cream that soothes and heals irritated skin. Medature PSL Repair Moisturizer can be used twice a day.

If you have allergic skin to many skin care ingredients, the best eczema cream for hypersensitive skin is VMV Hypoallergenics Red Better Daily Calming Moisturizer. This hypoallergenic face cream was developed by a dermatologist who specializes in skin allergies. It does not have the 100+ most common ingredients that cause skin allergy so it is safe for allergic skin.

Here is a list of our favorite barrier repair face creams that have anti-inflammatory ingredients:

A common complaint among eczema sufferers is inflammation and sensitivity on the eyelids, so finding a suitable eye eczema cream can be a challenge. The best eye cream for eczema protect the delicate eye area from steroids and other eczema medications that are used on the face at night.

Eczema cream for the face can rub-off onto the pillowcase and irritate the thin skin around the eyes. However, using a safe eye cream for your eczema at night can help protect the delicate eye area and calm any discomfort.

For eczema on the body, choose a fragrance-free body cream that will not stain clothing. Apply over damp skin after showering or bathing for best results.

If your eczema is moderately bad, and the soothing and calming daily eczema creams above do not help, then you may wish to try some over-the-counter solutions.

Hydrocortisone is the most common medicated eczema cream or ointment that you can purchase over-the-counter for mild-to-moderate eczema symptoms. Hydrocortisone is a steroid-based eczema treatment that reduces the inflammation that eczema can cause.

However, since hydrocortisone is relatively mild and available over-the-counter, it is not suitable to treat more severe forms of eczema, and should also not be used on the face without first consulting your dermatologist as it can thin the skin.

Prescription eczema creams contain steroids at a stronger concentration than hydrocortisone, and can help eczema a lot.

However, prescription steroids for eczema can also have side-effects if they are used too long on the body, such as thinning of the skin and stretch marks. If used on the face, prescription steroids can also cause rosacea and acne, which is why you should always consult with a dermatologist before starting any medicated eczema creams.

Alternative, non-steroidal eczema treatments are available. The most commonly prescribed eczema creams come as either topical calcineurin inhibitors (TCIs) or topical PDE4 inhibitors.

There are two types of TCI eczema creams, called tacrolimus ointment (e.g. Protopic® or generic options) and pimecrolimus cream (Elidel® and other generic options). TCIs are non-steroidal immunomodulators which help to calm the skin’s immune reaction that contributes to the skin inflammation seen in eczema. TCI eczema creams are very effective at settling flares of eczema and controlling inflammation.

Topical PDE4 inhibitors, such as Crisaborole (Eucrisa®) block the pathways in the immune system that cause the inflammation seen in eczema. Crisaborole is the only FDA-approved PDE4 inhibitor for eczema and comes in the form of an ointment. It is very effective at easing the itch caused by eczema, as well as reducing the risk of infection that can commonly occur when the skin barrier is impaired.

We recommend an eczema oil, eczema cream or an eczema ointment- - Choose whichever one you will use- because if you do not like the feeling and you do not use it- it will not work.

While an eczema lotion might seem like a sensible choice to calm and hydrate your skin, most of the time eczema lotions just aren’t hydrating enough. If you use an eczema body lotion, apply to damp skin. Use a cream or an an oil on top.  Apply lotions 2 times a day.

Eczema ointments are greasy, but medicated ingredients penetrate the skin better as an ointment, so prescription eczema treatments often come in ointment form. These are usually very sticky and get on your clothing and sheets.

Eczema creams are more popular than ointments to treat eczema because they are thick and luxurious, but not greasy. In ointments and creams, look for soothing fatty acids and ingredients like argan oil which work to hydrate the skin and soothe inflammation.

Eczema oils are a great alternative to treat eczema especially if you want an organic or natural eczema treatment. If you do not mind the greasy feeling of oil- you can apply a soothing oil to your eczema like PAORR 100% moroccan argan oil. You also can choose to first use an oil for eczema and then follow with an eczema cream. Applying the oil first on damp skin and then covering with the eczema cream the best way to moisturize the dry skin caused by eczema.

Eczema is caused by a genetic mutation that results in an impaired skin barrier. A barrier repair moisturizer with the correct ratio of the right kinds of lipids will repair your skin barrier. Barrier repair moisturizers will prevent dehydration by blocking the evaporation of water from your skin. They also plug tiny hole sin your skin which helps keep out irritants and allergens.

Creamy nonfoaming Cleansers are best for eczema prone skin. You can read more about cleansers for eczema here.

Mild-to-moderate eczema can be effectively controlled using over-the-counter, medicated creams, in addition to specially-formulated eczema creams, lotions, oils and ointments to soothe and hydrate the skin. An eczema moisturizer can help to seal the medicated ingredients on the skin to ensure they are better able to penetrate the skin and get to work.

More severe forms of eczema may require prescription treatments. Whatever the severity of your eczema, schedule an appointment with one of our skin care experts who can recommend the best treatment and skin care routine for your skin type.

The best and easiest way to find the right skin care for you is to shop by your Baumann Skin Type.