Best Cream For Itchy Skin
There are a number of over-the-counter creams that can be used to relieve itchiness of the skin. Some of these include antihistamines, hydrocortisone, and calamine lotion. If the itchiness is due to a skin condition such as eczema or psoriasis, a medicated cream prescribed by a doctor may be necessary.
How We Chose The Best Lotions For Eczema
We selected the best lotions based on Dr. Wassef and Dr. Rokhsars recommendations, finding products with the National Eczema Association seal, and tons of glowing user reviews.
Though its understandable to try to treat eczema with over-the-counter products, definitely consult your doctor or ask for a prescription-strength ointment if your symptoms worsen.
Lotions For Eczema We Also Tested
- Vaseline All Over Balm: While hydrating, this balm is also very greasy and not as effective at treating damaged skin or improving rough skin texture.
- Cetaphil Restoraderm Soothing Moisturizer:This rich and soothing lotion absorbs quickly but isn’t strong enough for severe eczema.
- CeraVe Hydrocortisone Cream: Another creamy lotion with the added benefit of corticosteroids, CeraVe Hydrocortisone Cream requires several applications in a short period to combat itchiness and inflammation.
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Best For Bug Bites: Cortizone 10 Maximum Strength Aloe Anti
When a barbecue in your backyard or an evening sitting around the fire has led to more mosquito bites than you can count, it’s time to apply Cortizone cream ASAP, Dr. Robinson says.
This anti-itch formula marries hydrocortisone with skin-soothing aloe to target inflammation and itching associated with bug bites.
“When relief is achieved quickly through a hard-hitting, multitasking product like this one, then the patient is less likely to itch and worsen the irritation leading to further inflammation and potentially scarring,” she says.
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How To Stop Eczema Itching At Night
It can be especially tough to find relief from nighttime eczema itching. There’s less to distract you from the itch when you’re lying in bed. Bedtime itchiness can sometimes be so bad it leads to insomnia, which can, in turn, increase stress levels and aggravate your eczema symptoms further.
Allergy medications won’t stop itching because histamines don’t cause eczema-related itching. Still, you might find OTC allergy medications help you to fall asleep.
Covering your hands to prevent yourself from scratching and breaking the skin while asleep may also be helpful in extreme cases of itchiness.
If your eczema-related itching keeps you up at night and nothing seems to help, consider talking to a healthcare provider about prescription treatments that can help with nighttime itching.
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Turn Down The Shower Temperature
Hot water might feel good in the moment, but it can ultimately worsen eczema by releasing itch-inducing compounds, says Dr. Fromowitz. Instead, use lukewarm water, which is less likely to exacerbate sensitive skin. And while you’re in there, stick to a mild, unscented soap . After you towel off, apply a liberal amount of moisturizer to hydrate and repair the skin’s barrier.
What Ingredients To Avoid In Eczema Creams
Of course, there are ingredients youll want to avoid too, Dendy Engelman, M.D., a board-certified dermatologist at Medical Dermatology and Cosmetic Surgery, tells SELF. Ingredients to watch out for include fragrances, exfoliating acids , harsh soaps, and retinol, she says: These can further irritate the skin by drying them out.
Dr. Nada Elbuluk, M.D., director of the Skin of Color Center and Pigmentary Program at USC, also notes to look at ingredients lists for anything you might be allergic to, because that will also cause a flare-up. I also recommend avoiding physical exfoliants and even certain fabrics such as wool, which can make eczema worse, she says.
So what are the absolute best eczema creams to hydrate, strengthen, and protect against flare-ups? We asked dermatologists to tell us what moisturizers they commonly recommend to their eczema patients. Heres what they suggest.
All products featured on SELF are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.
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Dust Mites May Exacerbate Eczema Flares
Eczema is a chronic inflammatory skin condition that causes a dry, scaly, inflamed, itchy rash. In general, its triggered by factors such as:
While dust mites dont causeeczema, these tiny creatures are a common trigger. About one-third of people living with eczema and a dust mite allergy report that their eczema symptoms are exacerbated after dust exposure.
Symptoms of an eczema flare-up after dust mite contact might first feel like very itchy, dry skin. Soon after, a rash usually erupts that may be rough, cracked, crusting, red, or discolored with small fluid-filled blisters.
Cerave Daily Moisturizing Lotion
The dermatologists we spoke to recommended this lotion from CeraVe, citing its use of ceramides as the main selling point. “This lotion has a unique blend of high-quality moisturizing agents ,” said Dr. Viktoryia Kazlouskaya, dermatologist at Khrom Dermatology. “Specifically, ceramides play a key role in skin protection and barrier function,” she added. The ingredients are released slowly during the day for all-day hydration, according to the brand.
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Best For Eczema: Cerave Cream
If you have atopic dermatitis â or eczema â you know itchy flare-ups can happen. They tend to be more common in the colder months, and unfortunately, the condition is chronic with no cure.
You should work with your dermatologist for a treatment plan, but most will recommend trying CeraVe Cream, says Morgana Colombo, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and the founder of Skintap.
CeraVe has ceramides, she says, or molecules important to creating our skin barrier, which is disrupted when you have eczema.
“One common complaint about moisturizers in people with eczema is that their skin dries out quickly after applying a moisturizer,” she says. “The added ceramides basically allow the skin to retain moisture and for the moisturizing effects of the cream to be more long-lasting.”
In the cooler months, when eczema symptoms tend to intensity, Dr. Colombo recommends mixing CeraVe Cream with Aquaphor or Vaseline for an even greater emollient effect.
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Can Calamine Lotion Help Treat Eczema
Calamine lotion is best known for being used to help with minor skin itching, for example, irritation caused by mosquito bites. So it could help soothe very itchy eczema, but calamine can also be drying, which can make eczema worse. For this reason, avoid using it on your skin for more than a few days.
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Naveen Chamomile Moisturizing Cream
I was an avid user of this chamomile cream years ago, and Im still a fan of it to this day. Its certified halal and organic, and best of all, it works! The cream has a soft silk-like consistency, because of its omega-rich blend of macadamia, jojoba and olive seed oils. In addition to that, it also contains organic chamomile flower water to soothe redness and calm inflammation. Overall, this is the priciest of the lot, but thats because it contains ethically-sourced, high quality and certified organic ingredients.
Where To Get: Naveen Chamomile Moisturizing Cream 50ml, RM197.17 is available at Watsons.
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Rosken Skin Repair Dry Skin Cream For Dry To Extra Dry Skin
Roskens Dry Skin Cream For Dry To Extra Dry Skin is a favourite of mine and is still one of the creams I reach for when Im having particularly dry and irritated skin. This Australian skincare staple contains nourishing ingredients like glycerin, olive oil and urea to boost moisture levels by 107% in 4 days and silicone to lock the moisture in place.
Where To Get: Rosken Skin Repair Dry Skin Cream 75ml, RM14.37 is available at Watsons.
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What Is The Treatment For Hand Dermatitis
Patients with all forms of hand dermatitis should be most particular to:
- Minimise contact with irritants even water
- Use non-soap cleanser when washing hands, rinse carefully, and ensure hands are completely dry afterwards
- Note that cream cleansers are not antimicrobial soap and water or a sanitiser is needed for washing hands in order to destroy pathogens such as the SARS-CoV-2 virus responsible for COVID-19
- Completely avoid allergens that have been identified by patch testing
- Apply thick emollients before work/school and reapply after washing or when the skin dries out .
Vinyl gloves are less likely than rubber gloves to cause allergic reactions.
- They must be scrupulously clean and should have no holes.
- They should not be worn for long periods.
- Sweating under the gloves aggravates dermatitis.
- Lined gloves or inner cotton gloves improve comfort.
Secondary bacterial infection may require an oral antibiotic, usually flucloxacillin.
Severe acute flares of hand dermatitis are treated with short course oral prednisone for 24 weeks.
Chronic intractable hand dermatitis may be treated with second-line agents such as azathioprine, methotrexate, ciclosporin, alitretinoin or .
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Best For Allergic Reactions: Benadryl Itch Stopping Gel Extra Strength
Following an adventurous hike, you come home to soak your tired feet â and you notice small sores along your heels. What gives?
You may have potentially come in contact with poison ivy, and now you’re experiencing what’s known as contact dermatitis. This clinical term describes a reaction that appears when the skin comes into contact with an irritant or an allergen, explains board-certified dermatologist Deanne Mraz Robinson, MD, chief medical officer for Ideal Image.
Because one of the most prominent symptoms of a topical allergic reaction is itching, she recommends this pick from Benadryl.
“This formula works by blocking the histamine response that causes itching and inflammation associated with allergic reaction,” she continues. “It also contains a topical analgesic â 2 percent diphenhydramine hydrochloride â to reduce the pain and discomfort that comes with itching and inflammation.”
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Benadryl Extra Strength Itch Relief Cream
Benadryl Extra-Strength Anti-Itch Relief Cream provides relief from skin itching. Made with 2 percent diphenhydramine hydrochloride topical analgesic and 0.1 percent zinc acetate skin protectant, this topical cream temporarily relieves itching associated with insect bites, sunburn, scrapes, minor skin irritations, burns and cuts, and contains a histamine blocker that dries the oozing and weeping of poison ivy, poison oak, and poison sumac.
Trigger : Physical Wear And Tear
Minor hand trauma from tasks like digging in the garden with bare hands can cause hand eczema or make it worse, as can friction from activities like handling large quantities of paper.
How to dodge it: Wear task-appropriate gloves. Cotton and fabric gloves can keep hands clean and protect against abrasions, but they may not be adequate for work with rough or sharp materials. Working with thorny plants, palm fronds or brambles may require leather gloves with longer cuffs.
Avoiding eczema triggers often goes a long way toward managing the condition. The key is to be diligent. It can take a massive amount of effort if you have severe hand dermatitis, and people often want a quick fix, but putting in that effort to take care of your skin really pays off in keeping eczema from coming back, said Dr. OBrien.
Dont get discouraged: Hand eczema can be stubborn, and it may take a few months for the patches of red, scaly and inflamed skin to fully heal. After that, your eczema is less likely to return.
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General Tips For Coping With Eczema
Other tips to manage your eczema include:
- Keep your fingernails short longer nails are more likely to injure your skin when you scratch.
- If the water in your area is hard or alkaline, consider installing a water-softening device.
- Swim in the sea in warm weather whenever you can seawater is known to reduce the symptoms of eczema.
- Use sun exposure for limited periods for example, when swimming at the beach. This can help relieve eczema symptoms. But be aware that ultraviolet radiation is a risk factor for skin cancer and premature ageing of the skin. Also, if sun exposure causes overheating, this can also aggravate eczema.
Avne Xeracalm Ad Lipid
Dr. Chan recommends Avenes XeraCalm A.D. Lipid-Replenishing Balm as one of her favorite eczema creams. Why? It nourishes that itchy feeling, helps rebalance the skins microbiome and seals in moisture for up to 48 hours.
It helps calm dry, irritated and sensitive skin by helping to reduce itching, and alleviating redness and inflammation, Dr. Libby notes, too, as one of her favorite eczema creams.
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Importance Of Eczema Treatment
There is growing evidence that allergens introduced into the body through the skin can lead to the later development of food allergy, asthma and hay fever. Aggressively treating eczema in children and taking steps to restore normal skin barrier function may lower the risk of future development of these conditions.
Emollients And Eczema Creams:
- Dermalex eczema steroid free, this emollient helps to relieve itchy and dry skin, while moisturising and preventing new flare-ups.
- Eumovte can help you to break the itch and scratch cycle with a 24 hour moisturising action. When purchasing this product online you will need to answer a set of questions, these will allow us to make sure that this treatment is suitable for you.
- Oilatum cream soothes and hydrates eczema prone skin to relieve itching.
If you are still unsure visit your local LloydsPharmacy and speak to one of our Pharmacists.
Topical corticosteroids are medicated creams, lotions and ointments applied directly to areas of the skin affected by eczema. They are available in different strengths, and only need to be used when symptoms have flared up.
Topical corticosteroids for eczema range from mild to very potent a common mild steroid treatment is hydrocortisone is formulated to treat mild to moderate eczema.
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Vanicream 1% Hydrocortisone Anti
Vanicream 1% Hydrocortisone Anti-Itch Cream provides relief from itching associated with minor skin irritations, inflammation and rashes due to eczema, seborrheic dermatitis, psoriasis, detergents, insect bites, soaps, cosmetics, poison ivy, oak and sumac. Specially formulated for sensitive skin, this cream is free of dyes, fragrance, lanolin, parabens, and formaldehyde.
Best Overall: La Roche
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Can be used on face or body
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Helps soothe itchy skin
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Has a very thick texture
Who else recommends it? Best Products, The Strategist, and Self all picked the La Roche-Posay Lipikar Soothing Relief Eczema Cream.
What do buyers say? 92% of 2,100+ Amazon reviewers rated this product 4 stars or above.
Accepted by the National Eczema Association, this is clinically proven to relieve itchy, irritated skin and help visibly reduce the signs of eczema, according to the brand. At work, are a host of soothing ingredients, including the brands eponymous Prebiotic Thermal Water, which is so effective that theres even a La Roche-Posay Thermal Center in France where eczema patients from all over the world come to experience its healing properties.
The prebiotic thermal water coupled with a new patented bacteria are meant to help the skins microbiome maintaining this balance of bacteria that live on the surface of the skin is meant to not only help treat existing eczema symptoms but ward off future flare-ups, too. It also contains hydrating shea butter and anti-inflammatory niacinamide and is safe to use on children over three years of age. The thick texture makes it a choice for treating areas such as elbows, hands, and knees.
Active Ingredients: Prebiotic thermal water, shea butter, niacinamide | Size: 6.76 ounces | Cruelty-Free: No | No
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Occlusives Lock In The Good Stuff
Occlusives are like a sealant, keeping moisture and hydration where they belong in your skin. Without an occlusive, some of that goodness is lost to evaporation. But adding an occlusive on top seals the deal by literally sealing hydration and moisture into place.
Occlusive ingredients good for eczema include:
- Silicone derivatives, like dimethicone.
Vaseline®, which is made of petroleum jelly, is both an emollient and an occlusive. For the most part, its safe to use on eczema. But like other occlusives, petroleum jelly alone wont moisturize your skin.
You have to get the moisture in there first, whether from other ingredients or from water, and then seal it in with a topcoat, Dr. Anthony explains. Thats what we call occlusive therapy.
Treating Eczema And Allergy Symptoms
Eczema cant be cured, but there are treatments to help control it. This can include a combination of home skin care and prescribed treatment options, including:
- Keeping skin moisturized
- Relieving itch with over-the-counter medications, cool compresses, or an oatmeal bath
- Managing your triggers
- Being gentle with your skin
- Using topical medications
- Taking oral medications that target the immune system
Dust allergy treatment is aimed at relieving symptoms. This can include OTC or prescribed medications such as:
- Oral immunotherapy drugs
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Eczema Cream For Baby
- 3 PRODUCTS-IN-1 TUBE: LEMYKA organic baby cream works as an anti-itch lotion, natural barrier cream, and intense therapy moisturizer to address all aspects of eczema treatment.
- LONG LASTING HYDRATION: Developed by Stanford researchers and freshly made in USA, LEMYKA non-greasy hydrating cream replenishes water and relieves irritated skin based on our advanced technology.
- REAL RESULTS Our team of skincare experts have formulated this newborn, baby, toddler-safe eczema cream through our advanced technology.
- IRRITANT and HARSH CHEMICAL FREE: LEMYKA atopic dermatitis cream is safe and gentle for babys delicate skin.
- OUR COMMITMENT We strive to deliver lasting results.
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