If you have eczema, you’re all too familiar with flare-ups of itchy, patchy, and inflamed skin and the quest for the perfect cream to soothe it.
Though there are many types of eczema, there’s one type of product that can help prevent and manage symptoms across the board. Using a quality moisturizer daily can help ease flare-ups, provide itch relief, and aid in healing your inflamed skin.
With the help of two board certified dermatologists, we sorted through the sea of salves to bring you only the best eczema creams and help you pick the best one for your skin.
Best eczema creams of 2022
- Best rated eczema cream: Vanicream Moisturizing Cream
- Best everyday eczema cream: CeraVe Moisturizing Cream
- Best eczema cream for flare-ups: CeraVe Healing Ointment
- Best heavy-duty eczema cream: Aquaphor Healing Ointment
- Best eczema cream for itch relief: Aveeno Eczema Therapy Itch Balm Relief
- Best aloe cream for eczema: Gold Bond Medicated Eczema Relief Cream
- Best CBD cream for eczema: CBD For Life Face Cream
- Best lactic acid cream for eczema: AmLactin Daily Moisturizing Lotion
- Best full body cream for eczema: Eucerin Eczema Relief Full Body Lotion
How we chose the best eczema creams
We talked with the pros to find out what to look for in an eczema cream as well as what to avoid. The advice of board certified dermatologists informed every option on our list, helping us single out the products that truly deliver.
- Contains proven ingredients. Dr. Jeannette Graf, board certified Dermatologist and Assistant Clinical Professor of Dermatology at Mt. Sinai, gave us some tips for scouring ingredient lists:
- Unscented petroleum jelly helps “repair skin barrier function and lock in hydration.”
- Aloe vera “soothes inflammation and can aid in the healing process.”
- Niacinamide (a form of vitamin B3) helps improve skin function.
- Other effective ingredients include ceramides, colloidal oatmeal, and other humectants (moisture-retaining ingredients) like glycerin, lactic acid, and hyaluronic acid
- Doesn’t contain harmful ingredients. We found products free of potentially harmful allergens that could worsen symptoms. Since eczema and sensitive skin typically go hand-in-hand, you’ll want to avoid any irritants. Board-certified dermatologist Anna Chacon suggests that “you want to avoid any alcohol-based products, as these are particularly drying.” Other common irritants include:
- urea
- parabens
- fragrance
- essential oils
- lanolin
- retinoids
- cocamidopropyl betaine
- propylene glycol
- A price point for every wallet. Eczema cream’s no good if you can’t afford it. We included several effective, dermatologist-approved options at the lowest price points on the market — as well as a few splurgier options with added, nice-to-have ingredients like natural botanicals.
- Expert and consumer-approved. We looked for options approved by the National Eczema Association, dermatologists, and of course, consumers like you. Sifting through reviews can take time, so we did the heavy lifting for you and your skin.
Pricing guide
- $ = under $13
- $$ = $13–26
- $$$ = over $26
9 best eczema creams
Best rated eczema cream
Vanicream Moisturizing Cream
Price: $$
If you’re overwhelmed by the options out there, Vanicream is a solid place to start. The petroleum jelly-based formula seals in moisture and is perfect for dry, sensitive skin — which more than likely describes your skin sitch if you have eczema.
Chacon recommends this moisturizing cream for a fairly budget-friendly pick that’s hypoallergenic and fragrance-free. It also skips out on parabens, dyes, and other potential irritants. Since just *one* wrong-for-you ingredient can trigger an eczema flare-up, it’s ideal to stick with something super gentle. In general, the fewer ingredients a product has, the less likely it is to spark an allergic reaction.
Reviewers praise its ultra-hydrating properties while remaining nongreasy, although some accuse it of being a little too thick. Pro tip: If you’d prefer a thinner option, you can pick up Vanicream’s Moisturizing Lotion instead which contains less oil. Ointments and creams tend to be better for eczema, but a lotion is better than nothing.
Best everyday eczema treatment
CeraVe Moisturizing Cream
Price: $$
“CeraVe moisturizing cream is a simple choice and it’s one of my favorites to pair before bedtime,” Chacon says. It contains hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and ceramides, all of which help repair the skin’s natural barrier and aid in hydration. Bonus: The company also offers a PM version that contains niacinamide which eases inflammation. It’s a great option for your face or any inflamed skin.
It goes on a bit like a lotion and some users rave that it eases itchiness in no time. Reviewers also say it helps eczema-related redness fade away. They also love that despite its thick texture, it’s not greasy.
A few reviewers complain it’s too heavy to use on their face, but the ingredient list *does* check out as gentle enough for all-over. Do a patch test to see if it’s right for you.
Best eczema cream for flare-ups
CeraVe Healing Ointment
Price: $
According to the National Eczema Association, ointments are the ideal first line of defense against eczema. Since they contain more oil than creams and lotions, they’re especially skilled at sealing in moisture. While this ultra-thick treatment might be a little much for all-over applications, it’s a perfect option for active flare-ups.
Chacon compares CeraVe’s healing ointment to Vaseline, another petroleum-based fave that works well for eczema. The advantage of using this over Vaseline is that CeraVe’s also contains hyaluronic acid and ceramides, which will give your skin some much-needed moisture.
This healing ointment has the National Eczema Association’s Seal of Approval. A bunch of reviewers call it their “holy grail” product for eczema outbreaks.
Best heavy-duty eczema cream
Aquaphor Healing Ointment
Price: $
Here’s another ointment to add to your shopping list. “Aquaphor healing ointment is one of my favorites for wound healing as well as for lip dryness,” Chacon says.
If you have a particularly red, inflamed, or wound-like eczema outbreak, reach for the Aquaphor. This formula contains particularly high petroleum content as well as mineral oil, glycerin, and panthenol, which makes it one of the most effective options for sealing in moisture.
Aquaphor is a long-time, trusted brand that’s reached cult fave status in recent years. Reviewers love it for easing eczema symptoms as well as rashes of all kinds.
Keep in mind that it does contain lanolin, which the National Eczema Association notes may irritate eczema-prone skin. Even though lanolin is a solid emollient derived from sheep’s wool, it’s not unheard of for folks with atopic dermatitis to have an allergy to it.
Reviewers sensitive to lanolin confirm: This one’s a no-go for them. Some broke out in a bumpy red rash after applying. Remember, always do a patch test when trying new products.
Best eczema cream for itch relief
Aveeno Eczema Therapy Itch Balm Relief
Price: $$
Who knew treating eczema could be so… enjoyable? Chacon loves the pocket-sized, “fun” convenience of this Aveeno Eczema Therapy balm. It’s easy to apply and lends immediate itch relief.
It’s formulated with colloidal oatmeal, which helps heal and soothe skin quickly. (Remember those oatmeal baths your grandma always recommends? She’s onto something.)
This fragrance-free, glycerin-based balm may also help fade any hyperpigmentation spots that eczema can leave behind. Reviewers rave that it eases eczema flare-ups in less than 24 hours.
Some with eczema did say they had some sensitivity to it, though. While it doesn’t contain any ingredients flagged by the National Eczema Association, the small quantity of citric acid it contains could be the culprit.
Best aloe treatment for eczema
Gold Bond Medicated Eczema Relief Cream
Price: $
This brand calls itself the #1 eczema symptom relief lotion brand, and they may not be far off. Chacon recommends Gold Bond products in general for folks with eczema. This 2 percent colloidal oatmeal formula, which was formulated with help from dermatologists, may be particularly effective.
Hypoallergenic, fragrance-free, dye-free, and approved by the National Eczema Association, this product’s other standout healing and hydrating ingredients include aloe, jojoba, shea butter, bisabolol, and ginger root extract.
While lots of reviewers swear by this cream for healing and soothing eczema, a few did complain of a slight burning sensation after application. (So don’t skip that patch test, just in case!)
Best CBD cream for eczema
CBD For Life Face Cream
Price: $$$
Graf recommends CBD For Life Face Cream for treating eczema on delicate facial skin. She says the combo of CBD, hyaluronic acid, and naturally sourced actives (including cucumber and licorice leaf extract) “help hydrate the skin, reduce redness, and even tone and texture.”
Although this cream is on the lighter side, Graf says it penetrates deep into the dermis to help hydrate your skin. “It also includes the key ingredient aloe vera, which soothes the skin from potential flare-ups.”
“Topical CBD has also been shown to improve inflammatory skin conditions and can help reduce irritating eczema symptoms like itching, pain, and dry skin,” she says.
Reviewers of all skin types seem to love its nongreasy formula, but there’s not much feedback out there from those with eczema in particular. It’s a new-ish company and product, but Graf swears by it.