Derms Say These Aloe-Vera Infused Creams Can Help Soothe Eczema Flares, So You Can Ditch the Itch

When it comes to moisturizers for eczema, Cetaphil doesn’t disappoint. Dr. Garshick and Dr. Song recommend this cream because it’s soothing and hydrating. It’s formulated with an allantoin skin protectant, as well as humectants like glycerin and panthenol, which can help attract and retain water. The cream has a gel-like consistency that absorbs quickly into the skin and is formulated without irritants like fragrance and parabens. Since it’s sensitive skin-safe, apply it all over the body or on parched patches to relieve stressed-out skin.

Amount: 16 oz.

Part of what makes Cortizone’s cream so effective at treating eczema spots is the hydrocortisone. A topical steroid, hydrocortisone reduces itching and inflammation while the aloe vera soothes the skin, says Dr. Garshick. “This combination may help to address signs and symptoms of eczema,” she adds. As someone with eczema myself, I love applying this cream on my hands, where I often get eczema patches and flares in the warm weather. Also nice? It’s fragrance-free and relieves itching in minutes. Itch-free city, here we come.

Amount: 2 oz.

The key ingredients in Nakery Beauty’s face and body cream are colloidal oatmeal and aloe vera. Combined, these gentle ingredients help to soothe areas of skin irritation, making it great for eczema and for use on the face. “It also contains squalane and sea buckthorn oil to prevent dryness while also strengthening the skin’s natural moisture barrier,” explains Dr. Garshick. Apply it directly on flare-ups, or use it as a daily moisturizer.

Amount: 6 fl. oz.

Whenever I’m feeling itchy or my skin needs an extra dose of moisture, I’ll reach for Skinfix’s Eczema+ Extra Strength Body Cream. “This hydrating and deeply nourishing cream combines colloidal oatmeal and sweet almond oil in addition to aloe vera, together helping to nourish dry skin and relieve itching,” says Dr. Garshick. Also in the formula is glycerin—a humectant that keeps skin hydrated for longer by pulling moisture to the skin—making it a great daily body moisturizer.

Amount: 8 fl. oz.

Eczema doesn’t exclusively target the skin on your body—it can affect your face and lips, too. For that, Dr. Song recommends Vaseline’s Lip Therapy. Formulated with pure Vaseline jelly and aloe vera, this non-greasy product softens chapped, irritated lips and soothes dryness. It also can be used to rehydrate the dry patches on the face. Eczema flares are no match for this balm.

Amount: 0.6 oz.

This Alhydran treatment works great for rough skin, according to Dr. Song. “This cream combines the benefits of urea, which helps to hydrate and nourish the skin with lactic acid and aloe vera to offer calming and soothing benefits for the skin,” says Dr. Garshick. “It can be used on irritated, sunburned, or post-procedure skin.”I struggle with parched eczema patches on my hands and it’s been a lifesaver for relieving my flares. After applying a quarter-sized amount to my hands, I notice reduced redness and flaking almost immediately.

Amount: 2 fl. oz.

One of the ways to worsen eczema is by continuing to itch. To stop itching in its tracks, Angela Lamb, MD, a dermatologist and associate professor of dermatology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Hospital, suggests Eczema Honey’s Original Skin-Soothing Cream.

“I like this one because it combines the healing elements of honey along with the hydrating properties of aloe,” she says. An additional property of aloe is that it cools the skin. Lastly, look to the colloidal oatmeal and organic sunflower oil—which forms a protective barrier and quells inflammation. Plus, this product received the seal of approval from the National Eczema Association (!!)

Amount: 4 oz.