Do you have dry, red and scaly skin breaking out in the creases of your arms, legs, wrists and fingers — even around your eyes? Eczema can feel like a curse, but it’s actually fairly common. Still, finding the best eczema treatments and moisturizers can take a lot of trial and error, especially for the most sensitive parts of your skin. Allergies and changes in climate only make the matter worse.
When my 17-year-old daughter swims in a chlorinated pool, we can count on a bad rash hours later. When she uses traditional sunscreen, we know she’ll be itching later that night. These are just some triggers and side effects of eczema that she’s dealt with since infancy. It’s miserable. Now in my 50s, there are days when my skin is hit with something similar.
This is called atopic eczema, and take it from me; it’s no fun. More than 30 million Americans are dealing with some form of eczema, which essentially means itchy, red, and scaly skin. Your outer skin layer ends up with tiny cracks, which leads to inflammation. It’s most common in knee and elbow joints but can happen anywhere.
One in ten people will suffer from eczema at some point in life, and it can pop up at any age. And as a bonus (sarcastically, she types), if you get it as an adult, it can be really challenging to treat. We’re here to help soothe your symptoms with the best eczema treatments we know!
How do you know it’s eczema?
If you experience these skin problems for the first time as an adult, then it’s important to confirm what you’re dealing with. What looks like eczema could also be an allergy, a bad reaction to medication, or different skin conditions like psoriasis.
Once confirmed, note that our skin changes as we age. Adults over 60 can sometimes end up with something called asteatotic eczema. This leads to extremely dry, cracked skin that has a harder time holding moisture or repairing itself after a scrape or cut. If you have red, flaky skin, and it ends up being eczema, try to keep in mind that it may not be curable but it CAN be treatable.
Tips to Reduce Eczema Breakouts and Ease Symptoms
Before you go to the most severe medications, it’s wise to try a few other options and consider environmental factors first. Even if you’re using the best eczema treatments, your environment could be negatively impacting your skin.
Examine your environment to see what might trigger eczema. It’s important to note when outbreaks happen and see what they have in common. In your case, it may not be chlorine or sunscreen. It could be something in the air in your home. Sometimes, there are fabrics that irritate your skin, or soaps and detergents can do it. Even jewelry can cause issues. Other times, it’s heat! So make sure to keep your home cool and even take shorter, luke-warm showers.
Also, consider vitamin deficiencies and dietary triggers. In some cases, things like eggs and cows’ milk might start an eczema flare-up. A dietitian might help if this is the case. If your itching is intense or related to seasonal allergies, you may also need to take an antihistamine. In really severe cases, you can also use bandages to protect the skin and prevent scratching.
Once you’ve ruled all that out and are looking to keep things on track, note that using the right moisturizer is essential. Moisturizing is important for all ages and supports the skin barrier. This helps with flare-up prevention. The moisturizers should contain three things: humectants that hydrate, emollients to support the skin, and occlusives to lock in the moisture. If you have chronic skin issues, remember to moisturize every day, several times a day, especially after bathing or washing your hands. When you do have a flare-up, you can consider topical corticosteroids to reduce swelling and redness.
For Extreme Cases: Corticosteroid Creams
The treatment options for adults are typically the same as those for children. How you handle it really will depend on the severity. If your case is making you miserable and keeping you from sleeping, like what my daughter experienced, then ask your doctor for a high dose of topical corticosteroid.
Despite trying all the best eczema treatments, these topical steroids were the ONLY thing that worked for my daughter. That said, overuse of steroid creams can have side effects that leave lasting impacts such as thinning of the skin — especially on the face and skin folds. Therefore, listen to your doctor and be cautious about how much you use. There are also pills and injectables if your case is severe enough.
The Best Eczema Treatments You Can Get Over-the-Counter
We already mentioned you should look for moisturizers with emollients, but they’re not just good for moisturizing. They can also have a mild anti-inflammatory impact. You may even need to try different kinds of emollients for different parts of your body.
Ointments are typically the most effective, but because they contain the most oil, they are often the greasiest. Lotions aren’t as greasy but may be less effective. Creams fall in the middle ground. It’s smart to use the emollient all the time, even when you’re not having symptoms, in order to keep flare-ups at bay.
Finding options with humectants will help add moisture to your skin. Think glycerin, lactic acid, and hyaluronic acid. Emollient options include glycol and glyceryl stearate, among others. Some common occlusives are petrolatum, dimethicone, shea butter, and mineral oil.
To make it easier, look for the NEA (National Eczema Association) Seal of Approval on products you’re considering. That makes it simple to find something that won’t aggravate sensitive skin. These are our favorite five options.
Gloves In A Bottle Shielding Lotion, $21.95
This Gloves In A Bottle Shielding Lotion is a game changer when it comes to eczema relief! Dermatologist recommended, Gloves In A Bottle restores moisture to dry or irritated skin caused by conditions such as eczema. By enhancing the integrity of the outer layer of the skin, it allows the skin to heal from within through its own natural processes, moisture and oils.
Clearbody Manuka Honey Relief Cream, $24.99
The manuka honey in this relief cream by Clearbody Organics offers both moisturizing and antimicrobial properties, fighting off bacteria and inflammation. Thousands of reviewers have said its one of the best eczema treatments they’ve found. Users also love the colloidal oatmeal and aloe vera, providing a cooling effect and a nice texture for application.
Vanicream Moisturizers and Skincare Products, $13.97
Vanicream is a brand for sensitive, eczema-prone skin that offers a variety of products from creams and ointments to face and body cleansers. It even has the NEA seal of approval. Users say their cleansers are gentle and help prevent flare-ups, while their creams and ointments have been a go-to for sensitive skin and eczema on the face. Plus, all of their products land in the $10-20 dollar range.
Avene XeraCalm A.D. Lipid-Replenishing Balm, $38
This pricier option helps rebalance the skin’s microbiome, which treats eczema and seals in moisture for up to 48 hours. It also calms the irritation to the skin. Online reviewers described it as a miracle cream for extremely sensitive and allergy-prone skin, especially around the face and eyes.
CeraVe Healing Ointment, $19.99
CeraVe offers a variety of gentle skin products and moisturizing creams. This thick healing ointment with petrolatum, hyaluronic acid and ceramides will offer the most benefits to those with intense eczema. It is also approved by the NEA.
ReViveU Beef Tallow Moisturizer, $22
While the benefits of beef tallow require more vigorous scientific research, it’s been used for millennia and many people with eczema swear by it. If you haven’t yet found the best eczema treatments for your individual case, give beef tallow a try. This ReViveU moisturizer contains jojoba oil and vitamins A, D, E, and K while avoiding irritants like synthetic fragrances.
Cetaphil Moisturizing Cream, $15.97
For milder cases, this is one of the most inexpensive hypoallergenic options with niacinamide. It’s popular for many with dry skin and even better for those with eczema.
Eucerin Eczema Relief Cream, $14.97
This is another one of the most affordable over-the-counter options that you can find in virtually any store. It also has colloidal oatmeal to help ease the redness and swelling, and it is known for fast-acting relief.
These are all readily available and reliable options for milder cases. If your eczema intensifies and even the best eczema treatments and thick ointments aren’t helping, consult your doctor for a steroid cream prescription. Remember, there’s no need to suffer when you don’t have to.
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