Combating Dryness: 5 Moisturizers for Eczema Prone Skin
Dealing with skin conditions like eczema is quite challenging. The condition causes skin dryness, rashes, inflammation, and other discomforts, making one try many products to combat it. A product’s ability to deal with the condition depends on the condition’s severity, the body’s immune system, and other factors that affect the effectiveness of eczema skincare products.
According to the available research, 1 in 10 people will develop eczema in their lifetime. It is estimated that 31.6% of people in the US are suffering from the condition. With such a sizable population grappling with this condition, many products on the market claim solace. If you suffer from eczema or are prone to the condition, this article provides some moisturizers to consider.
What is Eczema?
Eczema is a condition that affects the skin and is characterized by dry skin, sores, and inflammation. The drying of the skin results in itching and sores, causing discomfort to people suffering from the condition. No known cause of eczema exists, but experts suggest common triggers include irritants, environmental factors, food allergies, germs, hormonal changes, and infections.
While there is no known treatment for the condition, using quality moisturizer for eczema can help to alleviate the symptoms. Also, antihistamines and other medicines help to manage itching, flaking, and other discomforts.
5 Moisturizers for Eczema Prone Skin
Moisturizers are among the best options for soothing eczematous skin. They are applied directly to the skin and help keep it hydrated by offering a thin protective film that traps moisture.
1. Lotions
Lotions are some of the common moisturizers that people use to soothe dry skin. Since lotions are thinner than other products like creams, they are easy to apply and spread, creating a super thin layer that traps moisture. The moisturizing effects help alleviate skin drying, thus relieving the effects of eczema.
Apart from boasting ease of application, lotions are great for hairy and broken skin with pus. This is because only a little force is needed to spread the lotion.
While lotions are easy to apply, quality is also important. Apart from hydrating skin, lotion should also provide essential nutrients that can promote skin health. Some components that are thought to help skin include Aloe Vera, shea butter, oats, hyaluronic acid, and vitamin E.
The look for quality lotion should not stop at the quality ingredients; you should also be keen on allergens. It only takes one ingredient to worsen skin condition. Therefore, it calls for scrutiny to ensure your lotion is hypoallergenic.
Although lotions are amazing for conditioning dry skin, they don’t provide long-lasting hydration.
2. Creams
Creams are also great when dealing with eczema and other dry skin conditions. They are thicker than lotions, which contain more oil, vital for moisture sealing. Since they are thicker and have more oil, creams are ideal for daytime application.
Choosing the right cream is the first step toward soothing your skin. Like in lotions, ensuring that your target moisturizing cream has safe ingredients is vital. According to WebMD, ensure it has shea butter, glycerin, hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, petrolatum, and other dermatologist-approved ingredients.
While creams might have a combination of amazing ingredients, preservatives and fragrances can cause the condition to exacerbate. Also, avoid some ingredients like lanolin, urea, and retinoids, which can irritate the skin.
3. Ointments
Ointments are among the best choices for people with eczema and dry, flaky skin. These are thicker than lotions and creams, providing better skin protection against dehydration. Since they have the highest oil content, they tend to provide better skin conditioning than others.
Ointment with a hypoallergenic formulation works well on normal and sensitive skin. Due to its thick nature, ointments are preferred for use during days and nights. The greasy feel is because they contain petroleum jelly and mineral oils. These ingredients are rarely allergenic, which makes them perfect options for formulating ointments.
While most ointments are naturally formulated with safe oils, avoid those with additives such as fragrance and other irritating ingredients. Ointments don’t require prescriptions and are applied as often as the skin condition demands.
4. Sprays
If you have sore skin or the eczematous skin is hard to reach, ointments, creams, and lotions are not the best options. Applying creams and ointments on broken skin can also cause pain and irritations; this is where the sprays come in since they are simple and gentle.
Apart from being suitable for sore skin, sprays are ideal for reaching hard areas such as the back. Sprays are pressurized emollients formulated to keep the skin hydrated by pressing the bottle. This enables you to reach even the farthest point of the body.
5. Skin Barrier Creams
If the regular creams aren’t working, the other option is skin barrier creams. These are creams that are infused with additives like lipids and ceramides. The two compounds exist as building blocks in the body cells. Lipids are found in cells, while ceramides are the waxy substances in the skin.
When these compounds are added to creams, they are useful in locking moisture and keeping the skin hydrated. Besides, the compounds help lock impurities and allergens out, alleviating symptoms such as burning, itching, and others.
Unlike regular creams, skin barrier creams should only be applied to affected areas. They are normally available as over-the-counter and prescription creams.
Conclusion
To summarize, eczema management is one of the ultimate ways people can restore their skin. Using the right moisturizer allows the skin to gain elasticity and normal functioning. Whether you choose lotion, ointments, or sprays, they are useful to deal with dry skin as long as the used ingredients are safe and hypoallergenic.
