PracticalDermatology

Patients with sensitive skin or atopic dermatitis are inundated by skincare choices on Amazon and in brick-and-mortar drug stores. We reached out to top dermatologists to find out which cosmeceuticals, moisturizers, and/or cleansers they recommend to their eczema patients and why. Here’s what our experts had to say:

Category: Cleanser

Avene Oil Cleanser
Good for: Gentle cleansing

“It’s extremely gentle and actually seems to help moisturize the skin when cleansing rather than strip it of natural oils,” says Peter A. Lio, MD, a clinical assistant professor of dermatology and pediatrics at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and a partner at Medical Dermatology Associates of Chicago.

Category: General Moisturizers

Avéne XeraCalm
Good for: Inflamed skin

“It’s rich, but not greasy, preservative-free, and will not clog pores,” says Dr. Lio. “It almost never stings or burns and yet does a wonderful job of moisturizing the skin.”

LRP Lipikar Eczema
Good for: Targeted areas

“It’s soothing and with added oatmeal,” Dr. Lio says.

Theraplex AIM
Good for: Balancing the skin’s microbiome

“This product has 1% hydrocortisone in an incredibly soothing, moisturizing, and protective base,” says Dr. Lio, who helped develop Theraplex AIM. “It also has coconut oil which was added to support a healthy microbiome.”

Soothe-X Cream
Good for: Babies

“This is an all-natural, very soothing balm that is great for babies,” says Dr. Lio

Skinfix 911 ointment
Good for: Cracked skin

“This is such a fantastic thick protective moisturizer for dry, cracked skin such as on hands and feet!” says Dr. Lio.

Cetaphil Eczema Restoraderm Soothing Moisturizer
Good for: Eczema-prone skin

“This is a favorite among my eczema patients,” says Tiffany Jow Libby, MD, director of Mohs micrographic and dermatologic surgery at Brown Dermatology in Providence, RI. “It is fragrance-free, hypoallergenic, and has colloidal oatmeal to soothe and protect irritated skin.”

Sarna Sensitive Lotion
Good for: Itchy skin

“This lotion contains pramoxine which helps to relieve the sensation of itch and is accepted by the National Eczema Association as a product that is recommended and safe for daily use in eczema-prone patients,” says Dr. Libby

Category: Multi-product Collection

Codex Beauty Labs Bia collection
Good for: Eczema skincare

“When it comes to sensitive skin or eczema, we have to be careful about choosing products that use ingredients that are able to support the skin and the skin barrier without causing irritation,” says Raja Sivamani, MD, a dermatologist at UC Davis Health in Sacramento, CA. Three of the products in the Bia line have received the National Eczema Association’s Seal of Acceptance: Bia Skin Superfood, Bia Facial Oil, and Bia Unscented Soap. “These products are gentle on the skin, and they are backed by research studies that prove that they have skin and skin barrier supporting effects,” says Dr. Sivamani, who is also a Codex Beauty Labs dermatology advisor.