What Cream Do I Use for Eczema?

Ingredients are one of the most important factors to consider when choosing a cream for eczema. Eczema-prone skin tends to lose moisture more easily than healthy skin, making barrier-supporting ingredients such as ceramides, fatty acids and omega-rich oils especially valuable. 

Here's what to look for in an eczema cream, the ingredients that help support the skin barrier and why hydration alone isn't always enough for dry, sensitive skin. 

Key Takeaways 

• The best cream for eczema supports the skin barrier. Look for ingredients such as ceramides, fatty acids and omega-rich oils that help replenish the lipids needed to keep moisture in and dryness out. 
• Hydration is important, but barrier repair matters too. Eczema-prone skin often experiences increased moisture loss, making barrier-supporting ingredients essential for long-lasting comfort and hydration. 
• Rich creams and balms can help lock in moisture. Products formulated with ceramides and nourishing lipids can help keep dry skin feeling softer, smoother and more comfortable. 

Why Does Eczema-Prone Skin Need a Different Moisturizer? 

One of the hallmarks of eczema-prone skin is a compromised skin barrier, which acts as the body's first line of defense, helping retain moisture while protecting against environmental stressors. When your skin barrier becomes weakened, skin loses water more easily, leading to symptoms like extreme dryness, irritation and discomfort.  

This process is often linked to increased transepidermal water loss (TEWL), which refers to the amount of water that evaporates through the skin. Eczema-sufferers tend to have higher TEWL levels and reduced amounts of key barrier lipids such as ceramides. That's why many dermatologists recommend choosing moisturizers with ingredients that help replenish lipids and support skin barrier function.

Ceramides

Ceramides are naturally occurring lipids that make up a significant portion of the skin barrier. They help create a protective seal that keeps moisture in while helping protect against external irritants.

Fatty Acids

A healthy skin barrier relies on more than ceramides alone. Fatty acids are another important component, helping nourish the skin and improve its ability to retain moisture.

Omega-Rich Oils

Dry skin often benefits from oils rich in omegas. These nourishing lipids help replenish moisture and leave skin feeling softer and more comfortable.

Occlusive Ingredients

When skin is struggling to hold onto hydration, occlusive ingredients can help. By forming a protective layer on the surface of the skin, they help reduce moisture loss and support long-lasting hydration.

Why Hydration Alone Isn't Always Enough 

Many moisturizers focus primarily on adding hydration to the skin. While hydration is important, it doesn't fully address the needs of eczema-prone skin if the skin barrier remains compromised. Think of it this way: adding water to skin with a weakened barrier can be like filling a bucket with a hole in the bottom. Supporting the barrier helps the skin hold onto that moisture more effectively. This is where ingredients such as ceramides, fatty acids and omega-rich lipids play an important role. By helping replenish the skin's natural barrier, they support the skin's ability to retain moisture over time.

A Closer Look at Ceramide Repair Balm 

For those looking for a moisturizer that focuses on barrier support, the Eminence Organic Skin Care Ceramide Repair Balm was developed for dry and sensitive skin. The fragrance-free formula is accepted by the National Eczema Association through its Seal of Acceptance™️ program, which helps consumers identify products suitable for sensitive and eczema-prone skin. The balm combines a Ceramide Complex, elderberry seed oil, cupuaçu butter, calendula extract and allantoin to help support the skin's moisture barrier, replenish dry skin and lock in hydration. Skin is left feeling soft, supple and nourished. The rich balm texture helps lock in moisture and support the skin barrier wherever dryness is most noticeable. 

Expert Insight: Ingredients for Dry, Sensitive Skin 

MacKenzie Gartner, Eminence Organics Product Education Specialist, shares the ingredients she gravitates toward for dry, sensitive skin: 

"Recently I've added the Ceramide Repair Balm into my nighttime routine when I'm feeling extra dry. I love the addition of all the beneficial omegas in the Repair Balm, which help support my skin barrier and reduce TEWL." While there's no single moisturizer that works for everyone, choosing products that support the skin barrier can be an important part of a routine for dry and sensitive skin.

For dry, sensitive skin that needs extra nourishment, the Eminence Organic Ceramide Repair Balm combines barrier-supporting ceramides with nourishing lipids to help skin feel soft, comfortable and hydrated.