What's the best lotion for eczema? | Dr. Eddie's Happy Cappy

Whats-the-best-lotion-for-eczema Eczema is a skin condition that shows as dry, flaky red patches of skin, and can cause persistent discomfort. It can happen anywhere on the body and is mostly due to genetics that leads to skin barrier dysfunction. Many people with eczema also suffer from allergic rhinitis (“allergies”) and asthma. Estimates vary, but likely more than 30 million Americans are affected. Babies can get the condition pretty much anywhere on their body. Frequently, it affects their cheeks and the joints of their arms and legs. Is there a lotion for eczema? Or how about a cream for eczema? What is the difference?

Dermatologists and pediatricians suggest treating eczema, also known as atopic dermatitis, with a bland emollient 2 to 3 times a day. Bland emollient? An emollient is something that softens or soothes the skin. By bland we mean avoid scent and color. Creams have more mineral oil or petroleum jelly content and this makes them more efficient at protecting the skin barrier and locking in moisture. It is worth reiterating, with eczema, environmental irritants can gain access through the skin barrier and there is more water loss through a more permeable epidermal barrier.

So why not always use cream for eczema? Well many people end up using lotion for eczema because they are not aware of the difference “Baby lotion” is a term that rolls of the tongue of grandparents and doting aunts and uncles without a second thought when they see dry peeling skin of a newborn. Baby lotion is ubiquitous term that has been around for 80 years due to excellent marketing from a very popular American brand. The peeling of a newborn is natural and usually resolves in a couple weeks but the scented and dyed baby lotions stick around in the medicine cabinet, and if that baby develops eczema that scented lotion gets used and usually things do not get any better. Scent and color are common skin irritants with eczema. Another reason people use lotion for eczema is that they do not like the typically greasy nature of a cream. What if there was a cream that was not so greasy…

How should one care for eczema prone skin in children?

Pediatric dermatologists recommend using a gentle cleanser and bathing in lukewarm water for 10 minutes a day. Find a cleanser without harsh surfactants. A surfactant is what makes a liquid soap bubble. To find a cleanser that is gentle like this, look for the words, “sulfate-free” or “non-soap.”

Look for the word hypoallergenic. While hypoallergenic is not a perfect descriptor of a cosmetic, it hopefully describes accurately describes a product without added dye or fragrance.

And finally look for a product that has a low pH. Most normal soaps are drying and brutal and have a pH somewhere in the range of 9 and 10. The skin’s typical pH is somewhere in the range of 4 and 5. Happy Cappy’s Daily Shampoo & Body Wash has a low pH similar to that found in the skins normal range. There have been studies that show that skin with eczema ends up in the higher pH range and that bringing it down to normal helps protect the skin’s antimicrobial balance and improve skin barrier function.

Now that we have bathed, it is time to lock in that moisture!

So should you reach for a lotion for eczema? NO, reach for a cream for eczema or baby eczema cream. But I don’t like greasy! Good news…we have the best of both worlds.

Dr. Eddie’s Happy Cappy Moisturizing Cream is an eczema cream that protects and restores the delicate skin barrier. Use it two to three times a day on dry, itchy skin.

This clinically tested eczema cream protects and rehydrates the skin without being greasy. Grown-ups with delicate skin can anticipate similar outcomes. This first-class formulation combines glycerin with pharmaceutical grade petroleum jelly and natural ingredient licorice root extract to allow easy fast absorbing application without stinging.

Happy Cappy and Eczema

Happy Cappy Daily Shampoo for eczema and Body Wash and Moisturizing Creams are free of common skin irritants and truly fragrance free—no masking ingredients. They will enhance your eczema skin care regimen and are easily dispensed in our convenient pump bottles and jars.