5 Products For Very Dry, Itchy Or Eczema Prone Skin

My youngest daughter turned two this month! Iva the Diva is a little spit-fire who loves laughing, repeating everything we say and giving lots of hugs and kisses. Unfortunately, she’s also prone to very dry, scaly skin (mainly on her back) and extra-dry, red patches on certain parts of her body (mild eczema).

Luckily, I found a few products that have really helped treat her dry skin and eczema flare-ups (although she still enjoys her back rubs!).

*this post contains affiliate links*

What Is Eczema?

Eczema is a skin condition that can make your skin red and itchy; it can come and go and sufferers of this condition usually have flare-ups of eczema periodically. Wind, low temperatures, very dry skin, allergens and low humidity are several factors that can fuel eczema. Eczema often occurs in children and fingers crossed, Iva will grow out of it. There is no cure for eczema.

 

Eczema Treatments & Tips

Iva has a prescription cream that we can use on her eczema patches, but I only use it when I really have to and have been able to manage it with gentle, hydrating skin care products for the most part. Other non-prescription ways to manage eczema or very dry skin:

-Take lukewarm baths or showers – hot water can further dry out and irritate the skin.

-Consider adding oatmeal, vinegar, bleach, salt or baking soda to your bath – you can read more about specific bath treatments for eczema here.

-Moisturize immediately after bathing, when skin is still damp if you can, to add back and lock in moisture.

-Use gentle soaps and cleansers and avoid those that have sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) or other sulfates in the ingredients, which can be too drying.

-Know the triggers – if certain products or foods seem to coincide with eczema flare-ups, try to avoid them!

-You can browse a listing of recommended eczema products here.

RELATED READING: Why I Ditched My Foaming (Sulfate) Cleanser

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1. La Roche Posay Lipikar Baume AP+ Anti-Itching Lipid Replenishing Soothing Balm

La Roche Posay is well known for its skin care targeted to sensitive skin types and the Lipikar Baume is no exception. It’s formulated to soothe, irritated, itchy skin immediately and space out the flare-ups of severe dryness. It’s also safe enough for even newborn skin and is totally fragrance-free. I like to use Lipikar Baume on Iva’s face, but its balmy texture makes it great as a body lotion as well.

Lipikar Baume’s key ingredients include glycerin (moisturizing), mineral oil (seals in moisture) and niacinamide for overall skin health.

BUY IT: AMAZON| BOOTS | SHOPPERS BEAUY BOUTIQUE

 

2. Eucerin Eczema Relief

I grabbed this Eucerin Eczema Relief cream from the drugstore after the Aveeno Eczema Care cream I tried before it didn’t seem to do much for Iva’s dryness. Eucerin Eczema Relief is suitable for use on babies from 3 months old and is:

-Shown to reduce eczema symptoms with regular use (it did for Iva!)

-Hypoallergenic & non-irritating

-Fragrance, dye and steroid free

-Received the seal of acceptance from the Eczema Society of Canada

Key ingredients of interest in this eczema cream are colloidal oatmeal (soothes skin irritation), glycerin (moisturizing), mineral oil (seals in moisture), ceramide 3 (seals in moisture). Eucerin Relief is fragrance, dye and steroid free. I apply the Eucerin Eczema Relief cream all over Iva right after I bathe her while her skin is damp and have found it has significantly reduced her flare-ups of red, itchy patches. It also has a cooling sensation on contact for quick relief of any itchiness or irritation.

If Iva’s skin is extra dry, I’ll add a couple drops of The Ordinary’s Cold-Pressed Marula Oil to the cream (discussed further down in the post). Overall, I love how this eczema cream has helped soothe and moisturize Iva’s dry skin and already ordered another tube of it from Amazon.

BUY IT: Target | Amazon  | Walgreens

RELATED READING: Get Your Daily Dose Of Hyaluronic Acid With Larachem’s Moisturizing Gel

 

3. Bioderma Atoderm Ultra-Nourishing Anti-Irritation Shower Oil

I was browsing Amazon for another bottle of the Eucerin Relief Cream and came across this gentle shower oil from Bioderma. The Atoderm Ultra-Nourishing Shower Oil is a touted as a hydrating body wash for extremely dry or sensitive skin types and is sulfate-free. Bioderma formulated this shower oil to protect the skin’s natural moisture barrier and it’s made with vegetal bio-lipids that create a defensive barrier over the skin to soothe tightness. It’s also non-greasy and works to prevent skin aggravation by stopping the binding of bacteria (staphylococcus aureus).

Key ingredients in this shower oil are glycerin, niacinamide and vitamin E. Unfortunately, I also noticed fragrance (parfum) listed in the ingredients, which I really wish wasn’t included – why would sensitive skin types want added fragrance to potentially irritate them? Despite the added fragrance, Atoderm Ultra-Nourishing Shower Oil has received the seal of approval from the National Eczema Association and the National Psoriasis Foundation.

I’ve been using this shower oil on Iva and quite like it – except for the super strong fragrance. This shower oil has a very silky feel as you spread it on the skin with minimal lather (very similar to the feel and performance of the L’Occitane Almond Shower Oil) and leaves super-soft, clean skin behind. While I love how gentle it is Atoderm is, I hate the fragrance and have no idea why a skin care company would put such a strong scent in a product geared towards sensitive skin types – what the hell Bioderma?

BUY IT: Dermstore | Amazon

 

4. The Ordinary 100% Cold-Pressed Virgin Marula Oil

I had read that Marula Oil was good for soothing eczema prone skin, so I stopped by the Deciem store on the way to work and grabbed a bottle – love this stuff! This antioxidant-rich oil is obtained from the kernels of the fruits of the Marula tree and contains oleic acid and linoleic acid.

Marula Oil also hydrates the skin and this specific formula contains only cold-pressed virgin African Marula Oil that is 100% unrefined. Like most of The Ordinary’s products, the Marula Oil is vegan, silicone free, gluten free, cruelty free and alcohol free (not nut free though!).

As mentioned above, I like to add a couple drops of this Marula Oil to Iva’s Eucerin Eczema Relief Cream to lock in moisture and nourish her skin, specifically on her back. I also add a couple drops to her bum when she gets irritated down there – it heals up any diaper rash overnight! For about $10, I couldn’t ask for a better skin healer and it has greatly helped reduce her eczema flare-ups and diaper rashes.

BUY IT: The Ordinary | Lookfantastic | Selfridges

RELATED READING: The Ordinary: Haul + First Impressions

 

5. Aveeno Baby Eczema Care Soothing Bath Treatment

This soothing powder is great for both eczema, itchiness, insect bites, poison ivy, rashes and otherwise reactive skin. Simply rip open and dump the finely milled powder under running water in a warm bath and soak in it for about 15-30 minutes for full benefits. The box comes with five packets, each with powder containing Colloidal Oatmeal, known for its soothing properties. It’s also fragrance free, pthalate free, steroid free and paraben free. 

I’ve used this powder for both my youngest and oldest whenever they are itchy or irritated. My oldest had a terrible allergic reaction all over her body, resulting in a red, itchy rash and this bath soak was a great help. I also like it for my youngest if her eczema is acting up in the winter. This soak can be found in Aveeno’s Baby skin care range and adult range. 

BUY IT: AMAZON

What products do you rely on to treat eczema or super dry, itchy skin?