In order to help you deal with eczema once and for all, we’ve rounded up the best body wash for eczema. We've carefully tested and selected these products based on their effectiveness in reducing the itches, fighting inflammation and ability to restore the vital moisture of your skin. We believe these products can help you support your beauty.
Have you ever experienced bathing in stinky colloidal oatmeal drying your skin off followed by slathering on big bottles of moisturizers?
Then you probably know how debilitating and messy eczema can be. Some cases are so severe that even wearing shoes is unbearable. People who suffer from this have to wrap their feet and wear Velcro sandals (as in the character of John Stone in The Night of You).
The intense, frequent itching and flare-ups can be very frustrating and uncomfortable. Knowing what products to avoid and use is a good start to improve outbreaks.
Ensuring that the sensitive skin and affected areas are cared for does take some knowledge. So we have created a list of the best body washes for eczema, based on their active ingredients.
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Quick Overview - Our Choices for The Best Body Washes for Eczema
OUR TOP #1 PICK - Ordinary cleaners stand a small chance against the allergens and bacteria in a disrupted skin barrier, the root cause of eczema. With that in mind, Cetaphil’s Restoraderm Eczema Calming Body Wash is our top pick for the best body wash for eczema. It features a patented cleansing technology which can cleanse and preserve hydration. As a result, the skin barrier can be restored so we can be left soft, smooth, and free of irritation.
OUR TOP #2 PICK - The Aveeno Active Naturals Skin Relief Body Wash could provide long-lasting comfort for those with eczema, sensitive, and dry skins. Its star ingredient, colloidal oatmeal, may lock in moisture even after you rinse. Thus dry, itchy skin can be calmed and kept that way all day long.
OUR TOP #3 PICK - The Curel Itch Defense Body Wash can stop the itch before it even begins. It is designed with a concoction of skin conditioners, herbal oils, and gentle cleansers. We liked how this body wash creates a rich lather to cleanse and soothe troubled skin.
OUR TOP #4 PICK - Using all-natural ingredients to treat eczema-prone skin, the Mustela Stelatopia Cleansing Cream for Eczema-Prone Skin aims to preserve the skin’s cellular richness. This is possible by protecting the skin barrier and increasing moisture levels.
OUR TOP #5 PICK - The versatile CLn Body Wash focuses on giving instant relief to red, irritated skin prone to eczema, dermatitis, infection, folliculitis, and acne. It could be a game-changer for severe eczema caused by staph infections. This is due to its powerful compound developed to stop the spread of infection.
What is Eczema?
Eczema is a medical term for a set of chronic skin conditions caused by inflammation. There most common type of eczema is atopic dermatitis (AD) wherein the inflamed skin gets uncontrollably itchy.
The inflamed areas then assume rough and cracked patches in the process; some even experience blistering.
While eczema is prevalent among babies and toddlers, adults are no exception to the disease. Often, the disease goes away as a child ages, though some carry it into adulthood.
Eczema and its symptoms can be different for everyone. Your eczema may not look the same on you as it does to other babies and adults. It may appear in different areas of the body.
But one thing’s certain for everyone suffering from eczema – it is really very itchy. Other symptoms include the occurrence of dark-colored patches in the skin, formation of leather or scaly patches, swelling, and increased dryness or sensitivity.
You may ask, “what causes eczema?”. There are a lot of factors related to the condition.
According to Medical News Today, eczema can be attributed to genetics, nutrient deficiency, dry or sensitive skin, and bacterial infection. In other words, this can be anything that disrupts the skin barrier’s stability.
Furthermore, it can also be triggered by certain foods and environmental factors (pollen, smoke, etc.).
Tips for Choosing the Best Body Wash for Eczema
Cleansing and hydrating the skin are perhaps the most crucial steps in managing eczema. If you’ve had one, chances are you’ve done the “soak and seal” method countless times.
The idea is to soak the skin in a warm bath for 10 minutes or less while using a gentle cleanser free of soap.
After patting excess water to dry the skin out, you can seal moisture into the damp skin by applying an appropriate moisturizer.
Conventional soaps, aside from hypoallergenic ones, are not recommended for eczema-prone skin. Their chemical constituents can serve as constant sources of irritation.
Ideally, opt for products that are rich in skin-repairing emollients, including the best body washes for eczema.
An emollient is a 3-in-1 agent – a humectant, lubricant, and occluder. Occluders oil the skin surface to reduce water loss while humectants increase the skin’s capacity to hold water. Lastly, lubricants reduce drag from rubbing motions.
Since emollients help keep the skin supple and moisturized for long, the itching and inflammation may subside. They also provide a protective film which can prevent cracks and scales from forming.
Another lesser known ingredient that can cure eczema is ceramides. According to Dr. Debra Jaliman, a New York City-based dermatologist, products containing ceramides are beneficial for hydrating the skin.
Ceramides are comprised of fats and lipids that can also be found in the epidermis. They do an outstanding job in replenishing fats as well as strengthening the barrier to prevent dehydration.
Nonetheless, no matter how important cleansing eczema-prone skin is, bear in mind not to overdo it. Otherwise, the skin could dry up, and your efforts would be dust in the wind.
Dermatologists recommend taking warm baths and cleansing twice a day. Also, apply moisturizers immediately after bathing to maximize the product's’ benefits for hours ahead.
Product Reviews: Our Top 5 Body Washes for Eczema
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Up on the top spot of our best body wash for eczema round-up is the Cetaphil Restoraderm Eczema Calming Body Wash.
This particular body wash is non-comedogenic and can be gentle for sensitive skin.
Ordinary cleaners stand a smaller chance against the allergens and bacteria thriving in a disrupted skin barrier, the root cause of eczema.
Cetaphil formulated this body with a patented cleansing technology which aims to restore the skin barrier and make it resilient against bacteria invaders and preserve moisture. Thus, we can assume a soft, smooth form that is free of irritation.
“Filaggrin technology”, Cetaphil’s patented cleansing technology, combines two naturally-occurring compounds in the skin -- Pyrrolidone Carboxylic Acid (PCA) and Arginine. Both compounds essentially play an important role in maintaining the skin’s moisture levels.
The body wash replenishes these substances to help restore skin moisture and help strengthen the protective layer.Furthermore, this cleanser is infused with ceramide (a good reason why it deserves to be in the top spot), one of three essential fats found in the skin.
Ceramide helps retain moisture, while allantoin and panthenol may help soothe dry, itchy skin. Lastly, niacinamide, like ceramide, aids in locking in moisture to keep skin soft and smooth.
After weeks of evaluating this product, we found that it can be effective for atopic dermatitis or progressive eczema characterized by a bleeding, peeling, and oozing skin.
We like this wash because it felt velvety soft and calming to the skin. Typically within an hour, the rashes and dryness of the skin could be back for the first few washes, but we were happy to notice them become soft and clear from then on.
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The Aveeno Active Naturals Skin Relief Body Wash brings back the memories of colloidal oatmeal baths, minus all the hassle and discomfort. Hence, it’s our second choice for the best body washes for eczema.
This creamy cleanser can provide long-lasting comfort for those with eczema, sensitive, and dry skins.
Its star ingredient, colloidal oatmeal, can locks in moisture after rinsing. Thus you might be able to feel your skin softer and smoother. We appreciated how this feeling could go all day long.
For those who weren’t exposed to the old-fashioned way of relieving eczema, let us introduce you to oatmeal baths.
Oatmeal baths are popular because of the special properties of oat that gives it an enhanced ability to absorb moisture and calm dry, itchy, irritated skin.
On that account, Aveeno uses finely ground oat which boasts the ability to lock in moisture and soothing a wide array of irritations in just a jiffy.
Since this body wash is soap-free, fragrance-free, and hypoallergenic, it can further assist other skin conditions such as insect bites and poison ivy.
This product might work well for people who possess very sensitive skin and/or eczema that gets pretty bad in the winter. People with either conditions are wary of trying various cleansers because it might irritate and worsen the things.
Fortunately, this wash did not appear to irritate sensitive skin. It has no fragrance at all and lathers incredibly well. It's very gentle, moisturizing, and it can immediately relieve itching and rashes.
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As the name suggests, the Curel Itch Defense Body Wash can stop the itch before it even begins. It’s formulated with a unique blend of gentle cleansers, skin conditioners, and herbal oils that can create a rich lather to cleanse and soothe troubled skin.
Containing glycerin, panthenol, and glycol distearate, you can rest easy knowing that your itchy rashes can subside. These substances quickly lock in moisture to keep the skin barrier protected from potential irritants.
We also loved how this cleanser uses jojoba and olive oils, which are prominent ingredients among cosmetic products, rarely on non-cosmetic types.
Common uses of jojoba oil include treatment for acne, psoriasis, sunburn and chapped skin. Because of its emollient property, it may soothe the skin and unclog hair follicles.
Jojoba oil is actually an effective skin moisturizer and healer on its own. Much like jojoba oil, olive oil can heal eczema-prone skin through its antibacterial properties and ability to provide intense moisturization for extra dry skin.
We think that this product can work like a charm. First off, it brought instant relief for the constant itchy rash.
Additionally, we loved the lack of fragrance and the texture. It took us about a teaspoonful on a washcloth to cover the entire body.
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The Mustela Stelatopia Cleansing Cream for Eczema-Prone Skin features a plant-based formulation that aims to relieve the often uncomfortable symptoms of this disorder and restore your healthy skin.
The star ingredient of most Mustela baby products is Avocado Perseose, a rare molecule within the heart of the avocado that works to protect the skin barrier, maintain hydration levels, and preserve the cellular richness.
Another remarkable ingredient of this cleansing cream is sunflower oil distillate. The distillate stimulates the biosynthesis of epidermal lipids to provide nourishment for the skin and restores its barrier function against harmful external factors.
Thanks to the distillate’s emollient and anti-inflammatory properties, we can experience a relief of irritation and dryness.
We loved this cleanser as it may prove effective for treating and relieving eczema-affected areas, especially in the body and scalp.
After 2 baths with this wash and subsequent moisturization, we’ve experienced less itching and gradual disappearance of scalp flakes.
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CLn Body Wash is uniquely designed for red, irritated skin prone to eczema, dermatitis, infection, folliculitis, and acne.
This all-around body wash uses sodium hypochlorite to prevent and treat skin and tissue infections while giving the luxury of a gentle skin cleanser.
Before you say that sodium hypochlorite is drying because it’s made from bleach, know that this solution is diluted and treated to decrease irritation; it’s been designed by dermatologists after all.
It may also reduce the appearance of redness, dryness and scaly skin associated with atopic dermatitis.
This stuff is ideal for those suffering from severe eczema. Research shows that some people with eczema are more prone to staph infections, which could potentially worsen skin irritations.
We found that this product can be suitable for some people who use antibiotics for staph infections. By cleansing religiously with this wash, you could go antibiotics-free in a few months, or until the eczema seem to calm down.
It left our skin clear, acne-free, and it helped to stop itching immediately after use.
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The Bottom Line
Garnering the love of moms throughout the world for their very gentle yet potent skincare products, our experts’ pick for the best body wash for eczema is the Cetaphil Restoraderm Eczema Calming Body Wash.
We like it so much as it can be a great non-comedogenic cleanser. Furthermore, it might gentle enough to apply on dry, sensitive, or eczema-prone skin.
It utilizes a patented “Filaggrin technology”, a combination of two key ingredients naturally found in the skin, Pyrrolidone Carboxylic Acid (PCA) and Arginine, to cleanse and preserve moisture level. This can result in the restoration of the disrupted skin barrier, the main cause of eczema.
Furthermore, this cleanser is infused with ceramide (a good reason why it deserves to be in the top spot), allantoin, panthenol, and niacinamide – all working to lock and preserve moisture into the skin.
While we love all the products in our list, we think this one combines the most potent features for addressing a variety of issues. We do recommend any of our top five body washes, as they might be of help for your unique needs.
