Many traditional moisturizers don’t do a good job at managing eczema and may actually worsen symptoms. Instead, select a lotion or ointment designed specifically for facial use (with ointments often having more oil) with an occlusive layer to lock moisture in and keep out potential irritants.

If a trigger can be identified, steps should be taken to eliminate it as much as possible.
1. Use a Cleanser

Are You One of 17 Million Living with Eczema? Having eczema can be more than an inconvenient red rash; flare-ups can be highly itchy and leave embarrassing wine or makeup smudge stains behind. Luckily, there are steps that can help ease discomfort and decrease flare-ups.

Careful cleansing can help protect against dry, flaky skin during flare-ups. Soap can often strip away natural oils that protect against inflammation and irritation, so look for one with a similar pH value to your skin (about 5.5), free from fragrances, parabens, and dyes – such as Wild Natural’s soothing face wash featuring snow mushroom, turmeric and aloe as calming ingredients.

Dr. Garshick suggests taking another simple step toward fighting dryness: moisturize right after bathing or showering, according to Dr. Garshick. Applying moisturizer after cleansing helps protect the skin from losing water that could exacerbate its dryness; additionally, fragrance-free lotion is preferable because these can be less greasy for eczema-prone skin than cream-based ointments and creams.

If you can tolerate exfoliation, Nakra recommends exfoliating at least twice every week with mild chemicals like lactic or mandelic acid. She also suggests trying nourishing serums containing hyaluronic acid which help plump skin by drawing moisture to it.
2. Moisturize

Applying moisturizer regularly is essential for managing facial eczema, which can result in what’s known as ‘leaky skin,’ whereby your protective barrier loses function, leaving it open to moisture loss and potential irritations that lead to dry, flaking skin that’s susceptible to itching and irritation.

As well as moisturize regularly, there are other steps you can take to minimize flare-ups. One important strategy is utilizing a mild, non-irritating cleanser – Zeichner suggests choosing one without fragrances and dyes – while makeup wipes could aggravate issues even further.

After every shower or bath, it is also crucial to use lukewarm water and immediately apply a moisturizer after gently blotting dry the skin with tissue towels to prevent moisture loss. An even better strategy would be using an oil that contains barrier-boosting ingredients like imidazolidinyl urea or quaternium-15 as this will boost its protective effects further.

Moisturizers come in various forms, and your choice will depend on your skin’s needs for both oil and moisture. Lotions contain more water content than creams or ointments and tend to feel lighter on the skin while ointments have higher oil concentrations to lock in hydration and keep irritants at bay.
3. Exfoliate

Eczema affects sensitive skin, making product selection a trial and error process. Exfoliating once or twice weekly using unscented exfoliators products should help your condition.

A gentle scrub or brush is an effective way to exfoliate dead skin cells and give your complexion a healthier, glowier appearance. However, harsh exfoliating products should be avoided in order to avoid further irritating already sensitive skin and leading to redness and itching. Instead, look for mild exfoliating scrubs made of natural ingredients or specifically tailored towards sensitive skin; an exfoliating gel specifically made for sensitive skin may be less irritating and more suitable as an exfoliator option.

Always avoid known irritants like propylene glycol found in moisturizers and ethanol, an alcohol drying agent found in gels. Both ingredients may aggravate your condition and trigger flare-ups; to be safe, select products with the National Eczema Association Seal of Acceptance.

After exfoliating, be sure to complete your skincare regimen by applying a rich moisturizer designed specifically for sensitive skin. You could also consider adding an anti-inflammation and bacteria killing serum such as this one from First Aid Beauty; we have tested and highly recommend it!
4. Sunscreen

Protecting your face from sun damage is absolutely crucial if you suffer from eczema. According to the National Eczema Association (NEA), mineral-based sunscreen products tailored for sensitive skin provide maximum UVA/UVB rays protection without irritating fragrances, essential oils, lanolin or alcohol as these have drying effects on the skin. Additionally, when selecting sunscreen products without alcohol content because it dries it out further.

Prior to applying sunscreen (even sensitive-skin formula), always apply moisturiser in order to minimise irritation from both ingredients. Also be sure to reapply every two hours or sooner if sweating or toweling off occurs.

Marcus recommends Blue Lizard’s budget-friendly option with SPF 50 protection and oil-free formula as the optimal product to treat facial eczema.

Solara’s sunscreen milk is another excellent choice, packed with skin-soothing ingredients perfect for sensitive, reactive and eczema-prone skin. Containing only mineral filters along with barrier supporting ceramides and niacinamide. Furthermore, this light to medium coverage formula offers excellent sun protection.

Tags: eczema, skincare