When you have eczema or sensitive skin, not only is it difficult to heal your skin, but it can be quite challenging just to find some relief.
When considering different skin care creams, moisturizers, and cleansers to heal your sensitive skin, it’s important to look for sensitive skin care products with gentle ingredients.
Typically, you should seek out products specifically formulated for sensitive skin. These products will contain ingredients that are intensely moisturizing and use gentle cleaners while also avoiding substances that can trigger allergic reactions and cause irritation.
Avoid products that contain potentially harmful substances such as dyes, perfumes, and preservatives.
In this article, we’ll cover:
Knowing Your Ingredients
While many products advertise that they are to be used with “all skin types” or for “normal to dry skin” – this often doesn’t cut it.
If you suffer from eczema or have patchy, red and raised, irritated dry skin, you need a moisturizer tailored to your specific condition.
Not all products are created equal and there is no one-size-fits-all when it comes to treating sensitive skin.
Dry or sensitive skin products may contain quality moisturizers and gentle cleaners, but they may also contain different combinations of irritating preservatives or fragrances that can harm easily irritated skin.
Nivea, for example, offers a sensitive skin body wash that is free of soap and dyes. However, it also contains added fragrance.
Vaseline Advanced Repair and Lubriderm Daily Moisture lotion are both fragrance free products, yet they both contain parabens!
Different combinations may work perfectly for some sensitive skins and not for others. When in doubt, shop for natural products that are free of as many soaps, dyes, and added perfumes as possible.
Commonly used ingredients that are highly moisturizing and safe for extra sensitive skin and eczema:
- Colloidal Oatmeal
- Shea Butter
- Ceramides
Ingredients to avoid:
- Parabens
- Sulfates
- Phthalates
Healthy Moisturizing Ingredients
The best moisturizers for dry skin and eczema will usually contain a mixture of colloidal oatmeal, shea butter, and ceramides. Products with higher percentages of these substances equals more hydration.
What are Ceramides?
Ceramides are fatty substances, also known as lipids, which create a protective barrier for the outer layer of the skin. Ceramides help to maintain moisture within the skin.
The body naturally produces ceramides but this protective layer can be stripped away by harsh soaps, hot water, and environmental factors.
…most skin disorders that have a diminished barrier function present a decrease in total ceramide content with some differences in the ceramide pattern. Formulations containing lipids identical to those in skin and, in particular, some ceramide supplementation could improve disturbed skin conditions.
Source: NCBI (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12553851)
Brands like Cerave offer an entire product line of gentle face cleansers and body moisturizers that all contain ceramides to maintain well-hydrated skin.
Colloidal Oatmeal and Shea Butter
Both colloidal oatmeal and shea butter are moisturizing agents found in most lotions. However, the percentage of these substances will vary greatly depending on the quality of brand/product.
Quality skin care products that we’ve found contain levels as high as 2% colloidal oatmeal and 20% shea butter.
Unfortunately, most products on the shelf contain very low amounts of these two moisturizers or do not display the actual percentages at all.
Ingredients to Avoid
Most on-the-shelf skin care products will work just fine for most people. However, those with sensitive skin and eczema will want to avoid common parabens and chemicals that are present in the majority of body wash, shampoo, and moisturizers.
What are Parabens and why they should be avoided?
Not only can parabens cause skin irritation, but they can also lead to more serious health concerns.
The concern with these chemicals is that scientific studies suggest that parabens can disrupt hormones in the body and harm fertility and reproductive organs, affect birth outcomes, and increase the risk of cancer. They can also cause skin irritation.
Source: Tasha Stoiber, PhD, Senior Scientist (ewg.org)
Daily Practices for Sensitive Skin
- Take colder showers and limit your exposure to hot water.
- Apply moisturizer frequently and immediately following a shower.
- Use products formulated for specifically for dry and sensitive skin.
- Drink plenty of water and stay hydrated.
Other Factors Affecting Skin Health
- Diet & Nutrition – Pay attention to the foods that you eat and the timing of skin flare-ups. Rashes, hives, and eczema may occur after consumption of dairy, meats, or other foods.
- Stress Levels – Stress at work or in your personal life may lead to flare-ups. Whenever your skin is irritated, check in with your mental and emotional health. How are you feeling?
- Household Irritants – Limit your exposure to cleaning solutions like bleach. Try gentle and sensitive skin formulated products for your laundry detergents, fabric softeners and hand soaps. Maintain a dust-free house.
How do you treat eczema and dry, sensitive skin?
Leave a comment below and let us know what works for you.
