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You've heard of eczema, but do you know what it really is and do you want to calm it without a prescription? If you're confused, don't feel bad - there are actually seven different types of eczema. And, it's common - more than 31 million Americans have some form of eczema.
The most commonly-seen type of eczema is called atopic dermatitis, and it results from an overactive immune system, causing the skin to get dry and itchy. You could also have scaly patches, rashes, or blisters, and whichever symptoms you have, they're almost always itchy. Eczema doesn't discriminate on age - both adults and young children can have the symptoms. Adults with atopic dermatitis can often have the rash in the crook of the elbow or knee, but that symptom isn't as common in children.
Tuesday, February 18th
When itchy and irritated skin is crying for comfort, try Aveeno Eczema Therapy Itch Relief Balm by Johnson & Johnson. It contains soothing colloidal oatmeal, is free of steroids and fragrance, is allergy tested, and not tested on animals. Fans love its soothing effects and don't complain of irritation, even on sensitive skin. That's why Aveeno's Balm is our #1 pick.
Eczema Honey Original Skin-Soothing Cream is thick and luscious with natural and organic ingredients. Most say it is a great product and works well, but few weren't happy with the feel or how their skin reacted to it. However, Eczema Honey's customer service is excellent and they have a great return policy. This eczema product is one of our favorites.
Skintifique, a French skincare company, cares for your sensitive skin with up to 99% natural ingredients. With the Eczema Relief Pack, use the moisturizing lotion during the day and the hydrating gel at night for 24/7 care. People love the products and you are protected by a 30-day return policy. This eczema product is worth a try.
Eczema can have bad days and really bad days. That's why Terrasil has a two-pack combo: Daily Care Cream and Severe Outbreak Ointment to address whichever way your skin is acting up. There are natural ingredients and activated minerals to help the itch, irritation, and inflammation. It's made in the USA and there's a 90-day satisfaction guarantee. Terrasil gets our recommendation.
If your skin is sensitive and you're looking for a product with natural and organic ingredients that is free of many harmful ingredients you might find in traditional creams, consider Green Leaf Naturals' Amazing Aloe Vera Eczema & Psoriasis Cream with Manuka Honey. Original or unscented, people are happy with it. But if you're not happy with it, there's no mention of a satisfaction guarantee.
Wild Naturals Eczema & Psoriasis Cream is a gentle cream with many natural ingredients to soothe and hydrate your affected areas. With free shipping and a money-back guarantee, plus plenty of satisfied customers, this is an eczema product we can get behind.
Dove DermaSeries Eczema Body Lotion has soothing itch relief for your eczema symptoms. It's a creamy, hydrating lotion, spreading easily on the skin and it gets absorbed quickly. While this lotion can be soothing and help relieve itchy and dry skin, others find it to be sticky and heavy. Still, it's a good eczema relief option from a well-known brand.
Biogetica's Freedom Kit with SKin-H Dry ECZemease Formula offers 100% natural products to help not only relieve the symptoms of eczema, but also regulate the body's immune mechanism to give healing life to your skin. It's a bit pricey as there are five products in the kit, but it's all natural and aims to heal more than skin deep. There's also a 90-day money-back guarantee to make this purchase more risk-free to try.
H-Eczema is a liquid oil that you drop on your skin for immediate relief of itching. You'll need to keep using it for about two weeks to see significant results in redness or the other eczema symptoms you may be experiencing. It's all natural, safe for anyone aged two years and up, and it's made in California. It works for some but not for others, so we recommend using H-Eczema for the full length of Healing Natural Oils' 90-day satisfaction guarantee to see if it helps your skin.
CeraVe is a L'Oréal line of products formulated to help hydrate dry, itchy, and irritated skin. You can attack your eczema spots with their cream or ointment, or you can use their body wash and lotion for a full-body soothing feel. CeraVe Itch Relief Moisturizing Lotion especially seems to offer quick relief from the itch and other eczema symptoms. Most customers are satisfied with the results of this eczema product and the rest of the CeraVe line, but there are those who have had reactions, including burning sensations, with their products.
If you're itching, try emuaidMAX. It's an ointment for eczema and basically all things that can itch and irritate the skin from eczema to athlete's foot to shingles - you name it. It's the itch ointment. The tiny jar is pricey, but it may be worth it since it can relieve almost anything with which your skin might be irritated. There's a money-back guarantee, but only if you purchase through their website. Eczema users are hit or miss with this product and it's a bit too spendy to compete with our higher-ranked eczema relief options.
The packaging of Revitol Eczema Cream looks nice, but that's about all that's attractive about this product and company. There's literally no reason to spend your time or money here, and we strongly suggest you choose any other eczema product in our review instead.
Don't worry, though: eczema may be ugly and uncomfortable, but it's not contagious - you didn't catch it from someone and they can't catch it from you. However, atopic dermatitis can be hereditary. Genes combined with environmental triggers such as hay fever or food allergies can cause flare-ups. Emotional stress can cause flare-ups, too.
Contact dermatitis, which is another common type of eczema, has nothing to do with heredity and everything to do with what you've come into contact with. Regardless of which of the seven types of eczema you have, the question is how you can prevent it from showing up or managing it if you already have it. The answer is proper and consistent care of your skin.
Since there's no actual cure, the best you can do is to be nice to your skin by avoiding irritants and, well, stress. These are some of the common household products that are potential irritants:
You can't really avoid all shampoos, soaps, and household cleaners, but you can choose ones with gentle ingredients. There are several products that cater to those with sensitive skin and allergies. Choose candles without fragrances or with natural fragrances. Try homemade cleaners and wear gloves. Avoid jewelry or wear jewelry made of materials that are easier on the skin. Be sure to avoid wool or polyester in your clothing and sheets. And, keep a log of what your own triggers are so you can remember to avoid them. In fact, the National Eczema Association has an app to help you document your symptoms and triggers.
There are three basic things you can do to keep your flares under control:
There are a few types of OTC products for eczema or dermatitis. Lotions and moisturizers should contain ingredients such as aloe, ceramides, glycerin, petrolatum, mineral oil, humectants, and/or parabens. Where your personal preference comes in, or your skin sensitivity, is if you want all-natural ingredients in your product or if you're fine with lab-created ingredients.
Antihistamines and pain relievers can help keep symptoms at bay, and may be used in conjunction with or separately from use of lotions, creams, and ointments. Topical hydrocortisone cream is a low-potency steroid and can help to reduce itching, inflammation, and irritation. Eczema-friendly, medicated shampoos may be helpful for dandruff (seborrheic dermatitis) if they are fragrance-free and contain ketoconazole, selenium sulfide, coal tar, and zinc pyrithione. Sounds confusing? Let us help, as we've done the research for you.
When considering an over-the-counter topical product for eczema symptoms, keep the following in mind:
Top Consumer Reviews has reviewed and ranked the top over-the-counter products for eczema. We hope this information helps you find a product to relieve your skin from dryness, itching, irritation, or other annoying symptoms of eczema.
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