The experts have spoken: these picks from La Roche-Posay and Eucerin are the ultimate irritation relievers.
If you’re trying to address itchiness or redness brought on by eczema (a condition that causes the skin to become red, itchy, scaly, and inflamed), you’ve probably done your due diligence searching for the best eczema creams and products for quick relief.
To iron out the most comprehensive treatment plan for eczema, it’s best to talk to a board-certified dermatologist who can prescribe topical steroids and creams that will fight the uncomfortable itchiness and irritation that’s synonymous with the common skin condition. For moments when you’re in a pinch or want to use something in conjunction with prescription creams, there is also a slew of over-the-counter products that can help soothe symptoms.
These days, we’re lucky that more skin-care brands understand the need for products that cater to ultra-sensitive skin types and those who suffer from disorders, such as atopic dermatitis, otherwise known as eczema. Because your skin can get very dehydrated and irritated when you’re experiencing an eczema flare-up, the key to easing discomfort is good hydration, first and foremost, and maintaining the skin barrier. Luckily, there’s now a wellspring of soothing moisturizers and thick body creams on the market that target the symptoms of eczema and aid in taming flare-ups.
New York City-based board-certified dermatologist Kenneth Mark, MD suggests looking for creams that contain soothing, itch-relieving ingredients such as colloidal oatmeal, aloe, vitamin E, hydrocortisone, and green tea. Lubricants such as petrolatum can also help to lock in moisture and repair the skin barrier. What to avoid? Irritants like drying, alcohol-based gels, Mark says.
We spoke with several dermatologists about their recommendations for the best eczema creams you can get over the counter. Here are their top picks for curbing itch and irritation.
Pipette Eczema Lotion
Pipette’s Eczema Lotion is an ultra-gentle formula that everyone in the family can enjoy. This skin-care product provides instant relief from itchiness, dryness, and redness with the help of calming ingredients and moisture-replenishing emollients like colloidal oatmeal, ceramides, and squalane.
Evereden Healing Eczema Treatment
According to New York City-based dermatologist Hadley King, MD, Evereden’s Healing Eczema Treatment is one of the best itch-relief creams on the market, all thanks to its mix of humectants and emollients. Glycerin and sodium hyaluronate, a derivative of hyaluronic acid, hydrate the skin while a moisture-sealing blend of ceramides, squalane, shea butter, jojoba, sunflower seed, coconut, and argan oils condition and support the skin barrier. Dr. King notes that this formula also contains skin-soothing ingredients like colloidal oatmeal, cucumber extract, and allantoin.
Bliss Lemon & Sage Body Butter
One of Dr. King’s go-to body lotions for addressing eczema flare-ups is the Bliss Lemon & Sage Body Butter. She says it’s a great choice for dry, irritated skin since it’s infused with hydrating sodium hyaluronate, conditioning shea butter, and moisture-locking coconut oil. “It’s rich and creamy and also contains skin-calming ingredients like arnica montana,” Dr. King says.
Vaseline Healing Jelly Ointment
According to Marisa Garshick, MD, a board-certified New York City-based dermatologist, Vaseline Healing Jelly Ointment can instantly soothe dry, itchy patches. “As an occlusive, this petrolatum-based ointment locks moisture in, helping to reduce dryness of the skin,” she says.
Badger Unscented Classic Lip Balm
Yes, eczema flare-ups can happen anywhere, including on your lips. Diane Madfes, MD, the assistant professor of dermatology at Mount Sinai School of Medicine In New York City, suggests swiping on Badger’s Unscented Classic Lip Balm to calm dry, chapped, and irritated lips. This fragrance-free formula contains nourishing ingredients like anti-inflammatory beeswax, calming rosemary extract, and moisturizing extra virgin olive oil.
REN Skincare Evercalm Overnight Recovery Balm
Board-certified dermatologist Nava Greenfield, MD, who’s based at Schweiger Dermatology Group in New York City, says REN Skincare’s Evercalm Overnight Recovery Balm is a must for replenishing much-needed moisture to dry, itchy skin. This overnight balm contains lipid-rich olive, almond, sunflower, and jojoba oils to condition skin while calming beta-glucan reduces redness and itchy sensations.
Dove Body Love Sensitive Care Hand Cream
Dr. Garshick is also a major fan of Dove’s Body Love Sensitive Care Hand Cream for dry, cracked hands, an area of skin that she says is commonly affected by eczema. “I love this hand cream because it contains ceramides that help strengthen the skin barrier and protect against dryness,” she says. “It absorbs quickly and won’t leave your hands feeling greasy, making it easy to use multiple times per day.”
Avène Eau Thermale Cicalfate+ Restorative Protective Cream
Infused with the French brand’s famous thermal spring water, Avène’s Eau Thermale Cicalfate+ Restorative Protective Cream provides immediate comfort for dry, red, and itchy skin affected by eczema. It contains a soothing copper-zinc sulfate blend, which supports a healthy skin environment, as well as its own protein-rich ingredient called C+ Restore that helps protect and preserve the skin barrier.
Board-certified dermatologist Jennifer Segal, MD — who is based in Houston, Texas — says this product is her favorite rich-in-texture eczema cream. Segal notes that it’s ideal for facial eczema, specifically the eyelid and neck areas.
CeraVe Moisturizing Cream
CeraVe’s Moisturizing Cream contains ceramides (a lipid naturally found in the skin), as well as glycerin and hyaluronic acid to deeply moisturize dry and irritated skin. “This cream can help restore the skin’s protective barrier and hydration,” says board-certified dermatologist Shari Marchbein, MD, who is based in New York City, adding that it keeps the barrier itself intact and retains moisture in the skin.
La Roche-Posay Lipikar Soothing Relief Eczema Cream
La Roche-Posay’s Lipikar Soothing Relief Eczema Cream is a miracle for those suffering from stubborn dry spots and patches of irritation. According to Adam Friedman, MD — an associate professor of dermatology at George Washington School of Medicine and Health Sciences in Washington, D.C. — research studies show that Lipikar Cream can help to “normalize and diversify the bacterial communities on the skin.” This, he explains, helps to reduce the activity of the disease and decrease recurrence after stopping topical steroids.
Aveeno Eczema Therapy Itch Relief Balm
Packed with glycerin to seal in moisture and colloidal oatmeal to soothe irritated skin, Aveeno’s Eczema Therapy Itch Relief Balm will stop itch in its tracks — on your face and body. This fragrance-free option even has a National Eczema Association Seal of Approval and two thumbs up from New York City-based dermatologist Michele Green, MD to back it up. “Rich in colloidal oatmeal, this lotion is the perfect over-the-counter treatment for mild to moderate eczema,” she says. “The oats bind to the skin creating a shield against irritation while locking in natural moisture from your skin.”
Skinfix Eczema+ Hand Repair Cream
SkinFix’s Eczema+ Hand Repair Cream is clinically proven to improve dryness, redness, or cracked skin on hands (and this includes irritation caused by eczema). New York City-based board-certified dermatologist Dendy Engelman, MD names this eczema cream as her favorite option for patients. Combining ingredients like soothing colloidal oatmeal, plus moisturizing allantoin and sweet almond oil, the cream curbs itch while hydrating the skin simultaneously.
Aquaphor Advanced Therapy Ointment Body Spray
The latest version of Aquaphor’s original healing ointment, its Advanced Therapy Ointment Body Spray, offers the same skin-softening and protective benefits — minus the thick, somewhat greasy feel that some people can’t get into. Instead, this lightweight spray delivers an even mist that soothes skin upon contact and softens dry or scaly patches, too.
Board-certified dermatologist Sejal Shah, MD, who is based in New York City, says she recommends it because you can easily spritz, rub it in, and go in one easy motion, and it works just as well as the original.
PCA Skin CliniCalm 1%Board-certified dermatologist Scott Paviol, MD — who is based in Charlotte, North Carolina — tells Allure that PCA Skin CliniCalm 1% is an excellent soother for facial eczema. Featuring ingredients such as hyaluronic acid, honey, and hydrocortisone (in a 1 percent concentration), the cream is designed to relieve itching and irritation almost immediately.
First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream
Spiked with a skin-calming trifecta of colloidal oatmeal, shea butter, and ceramides, First Aid Beauty’s Ultra Repair Cream will smooth everything from rashes to itches. Dr. Garshick says this rich, thick cream also contains antioxidants to help fight off environmental stressors.
Vanicream Moisturizing Cream
Britt Craiglow, MD — a board-certified dermatologist specializing in rare skin conditions (including eczema), who is based in Fairfield, Connecticut — suggests Vanicream as a non-greasy eczema treatment that “provides excellent barrier protection.” Craiglow also notes that Vanicream is free of common contact allergens, making it an even better choice for people with extra-sensitive skin. It hydrates and soothes the skin’s barrier, without any dyes or fragrances to worry about.
Eczema Honey Original Skin-Soothing Cream
Eczema Honey’s Original Skin-Soothing Cream feels like a lightweight balm, but melts into the skin quickly without leaving any greasy residue behind. Instead — thanks to a hydrating blend of pure honey, along with almond and sunflower oils — it leaves the skin looking moisturized and visibly healthier. You’ll also find colloidal oatmeal in the formula to help temper itchiness and calm irritation.