Products You Should Use (or Avoid) for Eczema on Your Face

If you’re living with eczema, you may think about how to make your skin feel better, including how to stop flares from happening. Skin care can be an essential part of managing eczema and providing your dry, itchy skin with some much needed relief. But it’s not as simple as walking into the pharmacy to pick up some lotion. Some products can irritate your skin while others may be just what you need.

Retinols aren’t the best choice if you have eczema. Retinol and retinoids can irritate your skin and trigger eczema flares. The side effects — which include redness, pain, and itching — can be worse when you have eczema. If you want to use a retinol-based product, talk to your doctor, consider a more mild or moisturizing version, and start by applying light amounts to see if it irritates your skin.

When eczema leaves behind dark spots, you may want to do something to lighten that skin. Some common ingredients found in skin-brightening products are fine if you have eczema, while others aren’t a great choice. For example, ingredients such as niacinamide can help soothe skin. Azelaic acid is used to treat a number of skin conditions thanks to its anti-inflammatory and antibacterial benefits. But kojic acid can cause contact dermatitis or other skin irritation.

It depends on the ingredient. For example, hyaluronic acid can help protect your skin and relieve symptoms of eczema. Squalene is a moisturizing and soothing ingredient that can help relieve dry skin. Rose hip oil has anti-inflammatory qualities and has shown promising results for inflammatory skin conditions like eczema. Castor oil is found in skin care products, but there’s limited evidence to support whether it can help with eczema. 

Fragrance-free, non-soap cleansers are the best bet for eczema. Gentle or hydrating cleansers that are hypoallergenic and low in pH are great options because they won’t weaken the skin barrier. The best ingredients will be ones that hydrate, provide anti-inflammatory benefits, or protect your skin, like aloe, niacinamide, colloidal oatmeal, glycerin, and panthenol.

The right moisturizer can help repair your skin barrier and keep hydration locked in. When choosing a moisturizer, look for creams or ointments over lotions because they’re better at sealing in moisture. Creams that are enhanced with lipids and ceramides boost skin barrier health. Products that are higher in oil and use ingredients like petroleum jelly and mineral oil are the best for eczema. They help keep hydration in and irritants out.

Some sunscreens can cause eczema flares, so it’s important to choose the right one. Many sunscreens have a high alcohol content, which can irritate your skin. Mineral-based sunscreens are a great alternative because they use mineral-based active ingredients, like titanium dioxide and zinc oxide, which aren’t as aggravating as alcohol. These sunscreens can leave white residue on your skin, but newer products work better for darker skin tones.

When considering which serums and balms to try, look for ingredients that can calm inflammation and soothe skin, like:

• Colloidal oatmeal cream, which can protect your skin barrier, moisturize and soothe skin, and calm inflammation
• Ceramides and other lipids, which can relieve dry, itchy skin and restore skin barrier health
• Shea butter, which can soothe dry skin and reduce eczema symptoms 
• Products with the National Eczema Foundation’s Seal of Acceptance, which have gone through extensive testing and gotten approval from eczema experts

Non-soap cleansers that are hypoallergenic and low in pH are a recommended alternative to regular soap since they don’t irritate or weaken the skin barrier. Fragrances and certain ingredients can irritate your eczema, so:

• Steer clear of fragrances and deodorants.
• Avoid harsh soaps that have a high PH level or are alkaline.
• Use dye-free cleansers.
• Skip antibacterial soaps or sanitizers that have a high level of alcohol.

Exfoliators can disrupt the skin barrier and cause irritation. When you use something like a brush to exfoliate, your body can mistake it for scratching and release more of the “itch” hormone. Avoid more aggressive products like dry brushes and try any exfoliators on non-eczema skin first. Mild chemical exfoliators are best for sensitive skin. Look for ingredients like PHAs or lactic acid, which are known for being gentler on sensitive skin.

Fragrances are a common allergen that can irritate your eczema. You should avoid all skin care products with fragrances because they could cause a reaction. Products labeled “unscented” might still have problematic allergens or chemicals because they’re often designed with a “masking fragrance” to cover a naturally occurring odor. Sometimes, unscented products are made with allergens like rose oil, vanilla, and sweet almond oil.

There are many common allergens in cosmetic products. Check labels to see if certain products will work for you. You can do a patch test through your doctor to figure out which allergens are most likely to irritate your skin or cause an eczema flare. Your doctor will tape patches to your skin and test small amounts of different allergens to see when you react. This will help you figure out which products are best for you.