The 9 Best Dermatologist-Approved Ointments for Eczema to Stay Itch-Free

If you suffer from eczema like I do, you know that a good eczema ointment can provide real relief to itchy, dry skin. But you also know that ointments are thick and sticky, and it can take time for them to absorb. “Eczema patients have an inherently poor skin barrier, making ointments the best choice for them,” said Jacquelyn Dosal, MD, board-certified dermatologist at Skin Associates of South Florida in Coral Gables. She recommends ointments for her eczema patients whenever she can. “Ointment contains fewer ingredients, which is important when you apply it to a damaged skin barrier, which has more of a chance of causing irritation than to a normal skin barrier,” explains Dr. Dosal. “Ointments are also better at locking in moisture and soothing the skin.” Dina Strachan, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at Aglow Dermatology in New York City, agrees. “Ointments are better seals on the skin, and they work better on more severe areas,” she notes.

But the fact that ointments work so well doesn’t negate their impracticality in certain situations, especially when applying to parts of the body that are covered by clothes. “I generally tend to recommend creams over ointments unless someone is very dry, we’re treating stubborn areas, or we’re treating lips or eyelids,” says Dr. Strachan. “While ointment is heavier and a better seal, it’s not cosmetically elegant,” she adds, due to its sticky texture. “But they’re best for lips and eyelids, and can be great for hands at night.”

Regardless of where you land, you may want to use ointments over lotions or creams when you know it will help your eczema and not cause any irritation. Here are the nine best ointments for eczema, recommended by experts.

• Best itch relief: Noodle & Boo Ultimate Ointment
• Best for all over: Doctor Rogers Restore Healing Balm
• Best for body: Prequel Skin Utility Ointment
• Best for daily use: Aquaphor Healing Ointment
• Best with hydrocortisone: Cortizone-10 Maximum Strength 1% Hydrocortisone Itch Relief Water Resistant Ointment
• Best drugstore: CeraVe Healing Ointment 
• Best for babies: Cetaphil Baby Healing Ointment
• Best without petrolatum: Honest Head-to-Toe Healing Ointment
• Best for nighttime: Vaseline Healing Jelly Original

As a lifelong eczema sufferer and a writer with over a decade of experience writing about health, wellness, and lifestyle topics, I read hundreds of reviews and spoke to two experts to narrow it down to our top nine ointments for eczema. I asked experts to share when they recommend ointment for their patients, which products they swear by, and why they believe those products are effective. I also asked them to share which ingredients they like and which they always avoid for eczema patients. I spent time reading studies to support their recommendations and ensured that each recommended product met their criteria.

Here are the experts I consulted:

• Jacquelyn Dosal, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at Skin Associates of South Florida in Coral Gables
• Dina Strachan, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at Aglow Dermatology in New York City

Look for ingredients that have been shown to be effective in treating eczema, such as glycerin, ceramides, zinc oxide, and shea butter. Most ointments will contain petrolatum, which is effective for eczema, but there are options available if you prefer a non-petrolatum-based ointment. Also, try to avoid products that contain fragrance, which is a common skin irritant.

• Atopic Dermatitis This is the most common type of eczema, characterized by dry, itchy, discolored patches that can appear anywhere, but typically on the face, hands, inside the elbows, and behind the knees.

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• Contact Dermatitis This often appears as itchy, red skin that occurs when you come into contact with things that you’re allergic to, such as certain soaps, detergents, and dust.
• Neurodermatitis This can occur anywhere on your body and will appear as thick, scaly patches that are intensely itchy. Triggers include exposure to irritants or stress.

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• Dyshidrotic Eczema These tiny, itchy blisters often appear on the sides of your fingers, toes, palms, or soles of your feet.
• Nummular Eczema This type of eczema can occur all over your body as red, coin-shaped spots that can be itchy and oozy. It can be caused by heat, humidity, and dry air, among other things.
• Seborrheic Dermatitis This often presents as itchy, scaly, flaky patches that appear where there are oil glands — usually on the scalp and or in spots like behind your ears and in your eyebrows. It’s often confused with dandruff.
• Stasis Dermatitis This can occur on your lower legs, due to poor circulation. It shows up as itchy, swollen, red skin.

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If you’ve noticed a correlation between eating certain foods and your eczema, speak to your dermatologist about it to determine a treatment plan. They may refer you to an allergist to see if you’re allergic to particular foods. People with atopic dermatitis may have a higher risk for food allergies, and children with atopic dermatitis are 6 times more likely to develop a food allergy than children without it.