what is the best over the counter face treatment for eczema?

• Topical Steroids. Topical steroids are highly effective in treating and clearing up eczema symptoms. ...
• Oral Medications . Oral medications are also available to help reduce allergy symptoms and relieve itch. Oral antihistamines work to control allergies and reduce inflammation and itchiness.
• Shampoos. Shampoos are available to help treat eczema on the scalp, called seborrheic dermatitis or more simply, dandruff.
• Moisturizer and Lotions. If you are living with eczema, it is important to keep your body moisturized and hydrated to prevent itchingand to protect the skin barrier.

Full Answer

What are the best over the counter products for eczema?

Things to consider with OTC products

• Antihistamines and Pain Relievers. Atopic dermatitis (AD), the most common form of eczema is part of what’s known as the atopic triad (eczema, allergies and asthma).
• Topical Hydrocortisone. Topical OTC hydrocortisone is a low potency steroid and works on the skin by reducing irritation, itching and inflammation.
• Shampoos. ...

What are the best ways to help eczema?

Treatment - Atopic eczema

• Self care. As well as the treatments mentioned above, there are things you can do yourself to help ease your symptoms and prevent further problems.
• Emollients. ...
• Topical corticosteroids. ...
• Antihistamines. ...
• Bandages and wet wraps. ...
• Corticosteroid tablets. ...
• Seeing a specialist. ...
• Complementary therapies. ...

How to manage eczema on the face?

“With eczema, the skin barrier is not working as well as it should be ... The bad news is that eczema is a chronic condition, and the most you can expect is to manage it well with only occasional flare-ups. “A complete cure isn’t possible in a ...

How do you treat eczema on your face?

federal levels The great news is that treatment for dry skin often includes simple lifestyle changes and home remedies. Some lifestyle remedies that I recommend are to reduce the time you spend exposing your skin to high heat. Limit the use of space ...

What is best to use for eczema on face?

Skin Care for Facial Eczema The best way to keep your skin from drying out is with thick creams (Cetaphil, Eucerin) and ointments (Aquaphor, Vaseline), not with thinner lotions. The best time to do this is right after you wash your face. If ointments are too greasy for your face, try using them only at night.

What do dermatologists prescribe for eczema on face?

Corticosteroids, antihistamines, anti-inflammatories, and antibiotics are oral medications that may be used to treat eczema. Injectables. Some people may be prescribed biological medications or biologics to treat eczema.

What should you not put on your face for eczema?

8 skincare ingredients to avoid if you have eczema, according to dermatologistsFragrances. ... Essential oils. ... Urea. ... Lanolin. ... Retinoids. ... Cocamidopropyl betaine. ... Propylene glycol. ... Ethanol.

Why am I getting eczema on my face?

While a cause is unknown, certain things like allergies, asthma, and a family history of eczema may increase your risk of developing the condition. Eczema flare-ups are often triggered by exposure to chemicals, fragrances, heat, allergens, and stress.

Is Benadryl good for eczema?

Although there are many treatments for eczema, you might wonder whether over-the-counter (OTC) options such as Benadryl can help. Although Benadryl is helpful for allergies and itchy skin from hives or bug bites, it is not recommended for eczema and is ineffective for treating it.

How can I treat eczema on my face naturally?

Natural remedies for eczemaColloidal oatmeal. Colloidal oatmeal is found in a variety of bath soaks and body lotions. ... Bleach bath. It sounds strange, but adding bleach to your bath might be helpful. ... Apple cider vinegar. ... Coconut oil. ... Petroleum jelly. ... Cool compress. ... Embrace distraction. ... Skip the suds.More items...•

Can you put hydrocortisone on your face?

Never put hydrocortisone on your face unless your doctor says it's OK and has given you a prescription for it. It can make some skin problems worse like impetigo, rosacea and acne. Only use hydrocortisone skin treatments on children under 10 years old if a doctor recommends it.

What do dermatologists recommend for eczema?

Our dermatologists recommend and prescribe a topical corticosteroid based on your age, the location and surface area of a rash, and the severity of symptoms. Topical corticosteroids are applied directly to the affected areas of skin once or twice a day, depending on the type of corticosteroid prescribed.

What is the best treatment for eczema?

It’s why your first line of defense for eczema-prone skin should be a thick, gentle moisturizer.

What is the best moisturizer for eczema?

For a face moisturizer, Garshick suggests First Aid Beauty (a favorite moisturizer of our eczema-prone beauty writer Rio) because it contains colloidal oatmeal for calming inflammation and itchy skin, shea butter to protect the natural skin barrier, and ceramides.

Does La Roche Posay Lipikar cream help with itch?

For something lightweight and fast-absorbing, but still effective, Garshick suggests this La Roche-Posay Lipikar cream with added colloidal oatmeal for the itch. “It contains a high concentration of prebiotic water, which may have a role in improving the skin microbiome that’s linked to inflammation and irritation of the skin.” Niacinamide is another ingredient in it that can be helpful for calming redness and inflammation.

Does Hartman's cream help dry skin?

Because this cream (that we’ve written about many, many, many times before) contains ceramides, which Hartman calls “the building blocks of a healthy skin barrier,” it will provide your dry, itchy skin the protection it needs to stay hydrated. Hartman also particularly likes the ointment-like texture that’s “non-greasy” and thinks it “should be a part of every eczema treatment plan.” Thanks to the hyaluronic acid and glycerin, too, it’ll be exceptionally hydrating, keeping your skin soothed for longer stretches of time.

Is Neutrogena good for eczema?

The formula is slightly different from other hand creams in that it’s rich in glycerin, an ingredient he says is ideal for eczema-prone skin since it’s gentle, calming, and a humectant that draws water from the air to moisturize.

Is Vanicream good for sensitive skin?

Half of the dermatologists we spoke to brought up Vanicream, which we’ve already ranked as our best moisturizer for dry, sensitive skin, as a particularly good treatment because it’s essentially free from anything that could irritate your skin, including fragrance, lanolin, parabens, formaldehyde, dyes, and more.

Over-the-Counter Eczema Treatment Options

OTC medications refer to medications that are sold at pharmacies and stores without the need for a prescription from a doctor or dermatologist.

Possible Risks Associated With OTC Medications

One MyEczemaTeam member shared their success with OTC medications, “For many people, over-the-counter remedies are more beneficial than prescription meds. I’m not discouraging prescription options for those that need them, but some of them pose side effects.” But OTC products are not without their risks, too.

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1. Aveeno Eczema Therapy Daily Moisturizing Cream

Suppose you’re looking for a daily moisturizer that not only keeps your skin hydrated, supple, and smooth but also treats dryness, rashes, allergies. Well, in that case, you have to try the Aveeno Eczema Therapy Daily Moisturizing Cream. Active ingredients include colloidal oatmeal, which serves as an emollient for the skin.

2. Neosporin Eczema Essentials Daily Moisturizing Cream

Since time immemorial, Neosporin has been associated with relieving, healing, treating skin conditions and injuries. And for good reason, too! The Neosporin Eczema Essentials Daily Moisturizing Cream is no different and provides relief and protection for itchy, flaky, and eczema-prone skin.

3. Cetaphil Pro RESTORADERM Eczema Soothing Moisturizer

The Cetaphil Pro RestoraDerm Eczema Soothing Moisturizer is an over-the-counter dream come true for eczema-ridden skin.

4. Skinfix Eczema Hand Repair Cream

Are you worried about clammy hands? Even when you’ve not done any rough work, you find your fingers flaking and flaring up? The Skinfix Eczema Hand Repair Cream is one over-the-counter eczema cream that can put an end to your woes. This 3 oz tube of healing goodness is the ideal over-the-counter eczema treatment for dry and cracked skin.

5. Eucerin Eczema Relief Cream

It can be really embarrassing when you’ve all decked up, and your skin around your lips and face decides to flare up unexpectedly. And being stressed about it makes it 10 times worse. But there is more than 1 solution to this problem, and Eucerin Eczema Relief Cream is a definite contender.

6. TriDerma Eczema Fast Healing Face and Body Cream

Get quick relief from itching and rashes with the TriDerma Eczema Fast Healing Face and Body Cream. It effectively soothes rashes, dry skin, and irritation. The non-greasy formula provides long-lasting moisture. It is infused with Shea butter, AP4 Aloe Vera complex, and Colloidal Oatmeal.

7. CeraVe Eczema Relief Creamy Oil

Eczema itching can be very stressful. This cream is formulated with colloidal oatmeal that relieves itchy, dry, and flaky skin caused due to eczema. Safflower oil moisturizes and soothes the skin, while hyaluronic acid hydrates the skin and retains its natural moisture.

What is the best moisturizer for eczema?

CeraVe Skin Renewing Gel Oil. The National Eczema Association suggests using a moisturizer that contains a high concentration of oil, like this one from CeraVe, to hydrate and protect the skin barrier.

How many people have eczema?

While you may think of eczema as one health condition, it’s actually an umbrella term for a cluster of similar skin diseases that cause your skin to become itchy, red, and swollen. More than 31 million people deal with some form of eczema in the United States, according to the National Eczema Association. The skin on your face is much more delicate ...

What is the name of the rash on the cheeks?

Atopic dermatitis may show up on the cheeks and come along with asthma and/or hay fever. Contact dermatitis is associated with a specific allergen, like a harsh detergent or fragrance your body doesn’t like. Seborrheic dermatitis is common on the nose and scalp and linked to a yeast.

Is Cetaphil a good face wash?

Peredo emphasizes the importance of avoiding scrubs and other harsh cleansers if you have eczema on our face. This face wash from Cetaphil is just about as mild as it gets. It’s free of fragrances, hypoallergenic, and noncomedogenic, so it won’t clog your pores or irritate your skin.

Is eczema dry or itchy?

It can be tricky to distinguish the difference between eczema and dry skin—both are dry, both can be itchy, and both can be irritated with harsh products.

Does Aveeno have eczema protection?

Protecting your skin from the sun’s harmful UV rays becomes even more important when you’re dealing with eczema on your face. This pick from Aveeno (which was also named one of our best sunscreens of the year) includes colloidal oatmeal to hydrate, soothe, and protect the skin barrier.

What ingredients are best to help treat eczema?

Eczema is a clinical “dysfunction of the skin barrier,” Dr. Libby notes. As such, genetic, environmental, and immunologic factors contribute to its flare-up, but it’s a priority to repair the skin barrier. Namely, ingredients to help reverse eczematic effects are humectants, emollients and occlusive moisturizers.

Should I use a product that earned the National Eczema Foundation seal of approval?

The National Eczema Association created the Seal of Approval acceptance program to help sensitive-skinned consumers properly select skincare.

Best eczema creams

All hail CeraVe (much like the world, we love it too). Dr. Chan recommends this formula as one of the best eczema creams due to its ceramides count. With three essential ceramides, the brand’s Moisturizing Cream helps repair the skin’s barrier which, as our experts pointed out, is key for treating the skin condition.

Best eczema ointments

Nothing beats the good ol’ reliable Vaseline to get us through rough patches — pun totally intended. Dr. Chan recommends this decades-old ointment for eczema. Simply apply it to your problem areas for itchiness alleviation.

Best facial eczema treatments

For a moisturizer that works well on all skin types, IT Cosmetics is setting the bar high. Though not a traditional eczema treatment, Dr. Libby enjoys using this moisturizer, particularly for containing ceramides, squalane and hyaluronic acid.

Best eczema hand creams

Dr. Chan recommends O’Keeffe’s Hand Cream for eczema, specifically. The formula is infused with glycerin, helps reverse dry and rough skin and creates a protective layer on the skin’s surface, which is ideal to restore the skin’s barrier if prone to eczema.

1. Best Overall: ZeraFite Ultra Rich Body Cream

Leslie Baumann, MD, a dermatologist in Miami, Florida, recommends this cream because it's fragrance-free and was developed using MLE technology, which means it uses a combination of ceramides, fatty acids, cholesterol and other lipids to mimic the natural structure of your skin.

2. Best on a Budget: Vaseline

"At under $5, this classic coats, soothes and protects the skin," says Shoshana Marmon, MD, PhD, board-certified dermatologist and assistant professor and director of clinical research in the department of dermatology at New York Medical College.

3. Best for Face: CeraVe Moisturizing Cream

"The hyaluronic acid and ceramides in this super cream trap and retain moisture," Dr. Marmon says. "Also, it is oil-free and non-comedogenic, which means it won't leave your skin greasy or cause breakouts."

4. Best for Sensitive Skin: Vanicream

According to Dr. Marmon, this product line is specifically designed for sensitive skin because it's free of fragrance, dyes and formaldehyde.

5. Best for Body: La Roche-Posay Lipikar Soothing Relief Eczema Cream

Talk about a triple threat: "This soothing cream contains colloidal oatmeal, shea butter and niacinamide to heal a damaged skin barrier," Dr. Marmon says.

7. Best for Babies: Mustela Stelatopia Baby Emollient Face Cream

"This emollient is fragrance-free and relieves babies' itchy, irritated skin with gentle avocado and sunflower oil," Dr. Marmon says.

8. Best for People of Color: CeraVe Eczema Relief Creamy Oil

This soothing cream is a popular option for eczema for all skin types, Dr. Marmon says, because it's full of powerhouse ingredients like ceramides, hyaluronic acid and colloidal oatmeal that easily and quickly absorb into the skin.