What Makes a Great Eczema Cream?

Eczema and other sensitive skin conditions leave the skin’s outermost layer weak and vulnerable to irritants, bacteria, allergens, and other potentially harmful environmental factors. 

This damaged outer skin barrier also makes it harder for the skin to hold onto moisture, and dry, itchy skin can make eczema worse. It leads to a nasty itch-scratch cycle, but it can be broken with the right kind of moisturizer.

Moisturizers are vital interventions for anyone with dry, itchy, irritated, eczema-prone, or sensitive skin as they help protect and strengthen the skin’s outermost barrier. However, finding the right kind of moisturizer can be tricky, especially for children.

What Makes a Great Eczema Cream?

Often not considered, but what makes a great eczema cream truly great, is the ingredients it does not contain. Aside from avoiding potentially problematic ingredients, one should also consider the touch and feel desired from a cream. An eczema cream like Happy Cappy Moisturizing Cream for Eczema contains no silicone derivatives like dimethicone making this a cream that will not feel slippery. 

The aforementioned cream is hydrating and protects the skin without making it greasy, and it is fast absorbing. People who are not a fan of thick sticky creams and want a non-greasy formulation are going to like it.

According to the SkinSafe Happy Cappy Eczema Cream has been rated 100% safe and best for sensitive skin. Lets take a look a at a few things that you should look for in an eczema cream and what to avoid.

What to Look for in an Eczema Cream

Look for these ingredients when shopping for a moisturizing cream for eczema:

Licorice Root Extract

The licorice root extract is a plant extract that helps soothe common symptoms of eczema like redness and irritation. Made from a lengthy process that involves boiling the root and evaporating excess liquid to form a concentrated extract.

This effective and natural ingredient goes by many names, including Glycyrrhetinic Acid, Potassium Glycyrrhetinate, Glycyrrhizic Acid, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, and Stearyl Glycyrrhetinate.

It’s best to look for an eczema cream that lists Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, as this form of licorice root extract is not absorbed through the skin.

Glycerin

Glycerin is a humectant or a hygroscopic substance that locks onto moisture to keep whatever it is applied to moist. When used in a cream, glycerin is very effective at drawing moisture into the skin. 

In fact, a large study of more than 6,000 people found that people who used a cream made with glycerin reported their skin to be improved, as opposed to those who used a similar cream that didn’t include glycerin.

Emollients

Emollients are all about lubrication. The part of a moisturizer that helps keep skin smooth and soft, prevents water loss to lock in moisture all day. 

Creams generally contain more emollients than lotions, which makes them thicker and more adept at helping the skin retain moisture. Avoid emollients with fragrance, instead opt for milder shea butter, fatty acids, coconut oil, oleic acid, or other similar types.

Low pH Level

Products or creams that contain low pH levels can help with eczema and atopic dermatitis. People who are experiencing eczema have a high pH level of skin which is around 7 or more than 7.

Using a cream with a Basic or neutral (higher) pH level can further exacerbate the condition. So make sure the cream or moisturizer you are using has a pH level of less than 7. To learn more about how the pH level of products can help with eczema read our blog on acidification in atopic dermatitis.

Petrolatum

Petrolatum also commonly known as petroleum jelly can help lock moisture in the skin and repair the skin barrier. It helps the skin by creating an antibacterial compound that fights against infections. It also helps in relieving eczema symptoms like itching and dryness.

Citric Acid

Citric acid is often found in skincare products it has several benefits like it reduces the appearance of fine lines, preventing premature aging, and making the skin smoother by removing dead skin cells. But for people with eczema, it has another benefit: it helps balance the cream’s pH level and makes it more acidic (low pH).

Caprylyl Glycol

Caprylyl glycol helps in hydrating the skin by retaining moisture in it. It also provides the cream with its silky smooth texture which makes it easier to apply on the skin. 

What to Avoid?

Again avoidance is an important concept. Making sure certain raw materials are not present in an eczema cream goes a long way toward preventing irritated skin. Watch out for common ingredients like preservatives, acids, and fragrances.

Preservatives (Parabens)

Preservatives like methylparaben or butylparaben are designed to prevent bacteria from growing in cosmetic products. While bacteria are bad, these harsh chemicals can inflame sensitive skin. Instead, try moisturizers that have less irritating preservatives.

Acids

Acids like glycolic acid, salicylic acid, and retinol are put in some cosmetics to dry out oily skin, which is the last thing people with eczema need.

Fragrances

Fragrances are also incredibly triggering for sensitive skin. No matter how subtle a scent is, it can still cause a flare-up. Look for moisturizers that say “fragrance-free” on the label and do not have any of those acids on the ingredients list.

Lanolin

Lanolin is a very common ingredient in creams and moisturizers but it can work as an allergen for people with eczema. It can cause an eczema flare-up or worsen the condition.

Synthetic Dyes

Synthetic dyes in moisturizers and other skincare products can be very harmful to dry, sensitive, eczema-prone skin. They have a tendency to irritate the skin and worsen the eczema. 

It is best to use an eczema cream that is free from any type of artificial dye and colors. 

Sulfate (SLS)

Sulfate can be a very dangerous ingredient for people with eczema. It can cause intense itching, stinging sensation, and redness which will further exacerbate the condition. Eczema creams that are SLS-free are less likely to irritate the skin. 

Phthalates

Phthalates are chemicals that are used to make plastic more durable. They are also used in cosmetics. Eczema creams and other products that contain phthalates can be harmful to people with eczema. Various studies have shown that exposure to phthalates can increase the risk of developing eczema in children.

Nickel

Eczema-prone skin can be easily triggered or irritated by things that may not affect others. Nickel is one of them, a lot of people experience contact dermatitis because of nickel. Which is it is best to look for a nickel-free cream to avoid further complications and future eczema flare-ups.

Gluten

Many people are allergic to and experience skin issues like eczema due to gluten. This is why a large number of people are now shifting to gluten-free diets and gluten-free skincare products. So look for a cream for eczema free from gluten so it does not irritate your skin and worsen the condition. 

Make the Best of Your Eczema Cream

To get the best result from your eczema cream it is important to choose the right moisturizer and apply it correctly. Here are a few important steps for applying your eczema cream.

• Before applying eczema cream make sure your skin is clean.
• The best time to apply the moisturizer is after a bath when the skin is a little damp.
• Apply it in downward strokes gently.
•  Apply a moisturizer every time you wash your skin.
• If you are using the eczema cream for the first time make sure to patch test it beforehand. 

A Pediatrician’s Solution to Eczema

Dr. Eddie’s Happy Cappy Moisturizing Cream is a clinically tested solution for soothing dry, itchy, irritated, sensitive eczema-prone skin in children of all ages. Free of fragrances, dyes, sulfates, parabens, and phthalates, this moisturizing cream is instead made with natural ingredients like Licorice Root Extract (Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate) to help soothe redness and glycerin to help protect and restore the skin’s barrier.  

For best results cleanse your skin with Happy Cappy Daily Shampoo and Body Wash before applying the moisturizer. It is specially formulated to soothe eczema-prone skin, pediatrician-developed, and dermatologist-tested considered safe to be used on a daily basis. It contains ingredients that help alleviate eczema symptoms

Hyaluronic Acid

People with eczema also experience a low hyaluronic acid in their skin. Which is why it becomes dry more often. Hyaluronic acid in our shampoo and body wash help hydrate and reduce inflammation in the skin. Several studies have shown that the use of hyaluronic acid has proven effective in soothing eczema symptoms. 

Colloidal Oatmeal

It is extracted from the kernels of ats and blended into a powder. It has proven effective in soothing symptoms of skin conditions like eczema, atopic dermatitis, contact dermatitis, and dry skin. 

Colloidal oatmeal in eczema cleanser works as a skin barrier and protects the skin against outside irritants and allergens. It also helps in soothing the itching.

Panthenol

Sometimes referred to as provitamin B5, Panthenol is used in a variety of hair and skin products because it helps hydrate the skin and reduce the amount of water evaporation from the skin, which is called transepidermal water loss (TEWL). 

Panthenol reinforces the skin barrier to help lower the amount of TEWL, which can then help improve eczema symptoms like redness, dryness, and itching. 

Key Points

What makes a great eczema cream is what it contains, what it does not have, and how it feels to touch. But a few things that you should keep in your mind before buying your eczema cream is that it should be

• Fragrance -free
• Sulfate-free (SLS-free)
• Dye-free
• Paraben-free
• Lanolin-free
• Gluten-free
• Nickel-free
• Soy-free
• Coconut-free
• Phthalates-free 
• Low pH level

And contains ingredients that help soothe eczema like

• Glycerin
• Petrolatum
• Licorice root extracts
• Citric acid
• Caprylyl Glycol

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