Moisturizers and Emollients for Eczema

Soaps and harsh detergents should not be used on skin affected by eczema as they tend to strip the skin of natural oils.

Moisturizers are helpful in restoring the skins barrier and providing a protective layer on the surface of the skin. This helps to trap water and keep out harmful irritants and allergens. Moisturizers also help replenish natural oils in the skin. It's very important that the moisturizer doesn't irritate the skin and should be perfume and preservative free.

Diprobase is a very good choice and has been used successfully for over 25 years. It moisturizes and protects with white soft paraffin and liquid paraffin. It comes in both a cream and an ointment and the manufacturer recommends it for red inflamed, damaged, dry or chapped skin. Diprobase cream may also be helpful with itching.

Moisturizers containing alpha hydroxy acids can also be helpful for scaly skin and mild eczema as alpha hydroxy acids are exfoliants. Again it's important to ensure that they do not contain any perfumes.

Generally the drier your skin the oilier the moisturizer or emollient should be. Lighter creams may not work as well as ointments on severely dry skin. Creams are easy to apply and are quickly absorbed into the skin. They do however need to be applied more frequently. Ointments containing less water tend to stay on the skin for longer but can be messy to apply. The best moisturizer for you will depend on how dry and flaky your skin is.

When choosing a moisturizer look for the following ingredients: White soft paraffin, liquid paraffin, silicone (protect), glycerin, panthenol, hyaluronic acid, propylene glycol, butylene glycol (rehydrate), stearyl alcohol, cetyl alcohol, tocopheryl acetate, prolipids (restore).

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Eczema Index

• Eczema Overview
• Eczema Causes
• Eczema Symptoms
• Eczema Treatments
• Moisturizers and Emollients for Eczema
• Featured Treatment
• Living With Eczema

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