The 8 Best Dermatologist-Approved Lotions for Itchy, Eczema-Prone Skin
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The 8 Best Dermatologist-Approved Lotions for Itchy, Eczema-Prone Skin

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Published on September 29, 2025
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If you have eczema, you probably have an arsenal of products that you use to keep your skin happy — I certainly do. I’ve had eczema my whole life, and I’ve cycled through a variety of lotions for eczema in my attempts to keep flares at bay. As I began my research for the best lotions for eczema, I wanted to know what makes them different from creams and ointments, as well as what ingredients good eczema lotions contain.

“Lotions are the most lightweight, are easy to spread over large areas, and are better for skin that’s not extremely dry,” compared with creams and ointments, says Jacquelyn Dosal, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at The Dermatology House in Park City, Utah. She explains that lotions should be reserved for an area that needs high spreadability, like the scalp, or a large body surface area such as the back.

As for ingredients, she recommended ceramides. “They’re excellent at repairing the skin barrier,” says Dr. Dosal.

It’s important to understand the difference between dermatitis and eczema. Dermatitis is a general term for skin inflammation. There are different types of dermatitis, such as atopic dermatitis (chronic itchy rash) and contact dermatitis, which is a reaction to irritants in the outside world.

 Eczema is also a type of dermatitis, and it has different types as well, such as dyshidrotic eczema (itchy blisters) or nummular eczema (coinlike lesions).

Finally, an eczema lotion that works on one part of your body may not have the same results on a different part. You may need to experiment with different varieties to find something that helps. In other words: As someone with eczema, you’ve got to become a master of trial and error. Not everything will work for everyone, but our hope is that this list can offer a few options that will offer relief. Here’s what we recommend.

Our Top Picks for the Best Lotions for Eczema

Best for Daily Use

Eucerin Advanced Repair Lotion

$12.32 at Amazon
$12.97Now 5% Off
Buy on Amazon $12.32

Pros

  • Long-lasting moisture keeps skin hydrated all day
  • Enriched with ceramide-3
  • Fragrance-, dye-, paraben-free
  • Lightweight
  • Fast absorbing

Cons

  • Some users report an unpleasant smell
  • Does not have the NEA Seal of Acceptance

Key Specs

  • Notable ingredients: Ceramide-3, glycerin, urea, shea butter
  • Face or body: Body
  • Scented: No
  • NEA Seal of Acceptance: No
Our experts recommended ceramides (lipids that lock in moisture), and studies back them up, showing that ceramides have a positive effect on the skin barrier and may also relieve itching.

This lotion, from a trusted brand that makes many products specifically for eczema, is enhanced with ceramide-3, or ceramide NP.

 It also contains glycerin, which can help boost epidermal barrier function,

 and urea, which aids in skin integrity and hydration.

 We found that this lotion is well tolerated by people with eczema and often helps moisturize and hydrate eczematous skin. Its hydrating ingredient list makes this a great choice for a daily body moisturizer.

However, it does not contain a Seal of Acceptance from the National Eczema Association (NEA). The NEA seal is generally a great way to gauge a product’s safety and efficacy. To meet the NEA’s standards, products undergo testing for sensitivity, irritation, and toxicity from the NEA’s Scientific Oversight Committee, which also reviews the product’s ingredients and formulation data. For this list, we’ve tried to stick to products that have the seal. Eucerin Advanced Repair Lotion was recommended by Dina Strachan, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at Aglow Dermatology in New York City, and our research indicated that it deserved a spot on our list even without the seal.

Best No-Frills

Vanicream Moisturizing Lotion

$13.53 at Amazon
$14.24Now 5% Off
Buy on Amazon $13.53

Pros

  • Common, effective ingredient list
  • Free from fragrances, dyes, lanolin, paraben, and botanical extracts
  • Lightweight
  • NEA Seal of Acceptance

Cons

  • Contains propylene glycol, which can be an allergen
  • Doesn’t contain shea butter or colloidal oatmeal

Key Specs

  • Notable ingredients: Petrolatum, propylene glycol
  • Face or body: Both
  • Scented: No
  • NEA Seal of Acceptance: Yes

Among people with eczema, Vanicream can feel like our little secret. It’s not advertised, the bottle isn’t sexy, and celebrities don’t list it in their 10-step skin-care routines. But the brand makes solid, no-frills products that consistently moisturize eczematous skin. With 11 common listed ingredients — the first one being purified water — it’s the antithesis of overwrought.

In addition to water, it contains petrolatum, which protects the skin barrier, and propylene glycol.

 Propylene glycol is a humectant, which means it helps moisturize your skin. But it is also sometimes an allergen.

 If propylene glycol in other products has caused irritation, this lotion may not be right for you.

Best for Hands

Gold Bond Eczema Relief Medicated Skin Protectant Cream

$16.11 at Amazon
$16.96Now 5% Off
Buy on Amazon $16.11

Pros

  • Leaves hands feeling soft, not greasy
  • Relieves roughness and redness
  • Contains 2 percent colloidal oatmeal, aloe
  • NEA Seal of Acceptance

Cons

  • May pill on skin
  • Thick texture may not appeal to all

Key Specs

  • Notable ingredients: Colloidal oatmeal, aloe, shea butter extract, ceramide-NG
  • Face or body: Hands
  • Scented: No
  • NEA Seal of Acceptance: Yes
My hands are my greatest source of eczema stress, so this one hits close to home. But for anyone with eczema-prone skin, hands can be a particular struggle. Washing them multiple times a day has the potential to dry out the skin, and many people who work with their hands are exposed to oils, acids, and other substances that can cause irritation.

 In other words, a fragrance-free lotion that’s good for hands is a must-have.
That’s where Gold Bond comes in. The brand has been around for over 135 years. Its key ingredients are colloidal oatmeal, which is anti-inflammatory and has been shown to soothe eczema-prone skin, and aloe, which is often used to treat skin wounds like burns and can be used to help retain skin moisture and integrity.

 

 Together, the two ingredients can help soothe angry, red skin on your hands. It’s available in a larger pump bottle (14 ounces) that’s convenient to stash near sinks.

Best for Body

Nécessaire The Body Lotion

$46.80 at Amazon
$52Now 10% Off
Buy on Amazon $46.80

Pros

  • Contains 2.5 percent niacinamide, peptides
  • Shea butter, glycerin to moisturize
  • Fragrance-free
  • Free from silicone, phthalates, parabens
  • NEA Seal of Acceptance

Cons

  • Most expensive lotion on our list
  • May not feel moisturizing enough for some

Key Specs

  • Notable ingredients: Niacinamide, peptides, glycerin, shea butter
  • Face or body: Body
  • Scented: No
  • NEA Seal of Acceptance: Yes
With the tagline “Treat your body like your face,” this lotion piqued my interest. Most people with eczema don’t have the luxury of ignoring the skin on 90 percent of our bodies. This lotion boasts niacinamide as its primary ingredient. Niacinamide is a type of vitamin B3, and it can help boost hydration and calm redness. It can also help reduce the appearance of pores and reduce the appearance of wrinkles, fine lines, and dark spots.

 Studies have shown that niacinamide can significantly improve skin barrier function in people with eczema, and the NEA lists it as one of the best ingredients for people with eczema.

 

On top of that, the lotion contains peptides, which are active ingredients that can help improve collagen creation and skin cell production, and reduce inflammation.

Best for Itch Relief

Cortizone-10 Intensive Healing Lotion for Eczema

$8.88 at Amazon
Buy on Amazon $8.88

Pros

  • Contains 1 percent hydrocortisone to help relieve itchy skin
  • Includes vitamins A, C, and E and aloe to soothe inflamed skin
  • Glycerin, shea butter to moisturize
  • NEA Seal of Acceptance

Cons

  • Not for those who dislike using hydrocortisone
  • Should not be used more than seven consecutive days

Key Specs

  • Notable ingredients: 1 percent hydrocortisone, glycerin, petrolatum, aloe, oat kernel extract, shea butter
  • Face or body: For use on affected areas only
  • Scented: No
  • NEA Seal of Acceptance: Yes
When my eczema itching is bad, it’s really bad. I’ve tried wearing gloves to bed at night to stop myself from scratching, but I always end up ripping them off in my sleep, itching away, and waking up with broken skin. If you have eczema, I’m sure this story is all too familiar. So when your eczema itching reaches its peak, it’s time to turn to the tried and true: over-the-counter hydrocortisone. While it is a topical steroid, at this low dose, it doesn’t require a prescription and still reduces swelling, redness, and itching.

While the NEA recommends hydrocortisone to help treat eczema, it cautions that it should not be used for longer than seven days in a row.

Best Lightweight

CeraVe Daily Moisturizing Lotion

$13.62 at Amazon
$14.34Now 5% Off
Buy on Amazon $13.62

Pros

  • Lightweight, nongreasy
  • Contains ceramides, hyaluronic acid
  • Fragrance-free
  • NEA Seal of Acceptance

Cons

  • Thinner consistency
  • Contains parabens

Key Specs

  • Notable ingredients: Ceramides, hyaluronic acid
  • Face or body: Both
  • Scented: No
  • NEA Seal of Acceptance: Yes
CeraVe Daily Moisturizing Lotion is a lightweight, nongreasy lotion formulated with ceramides (those stars at repairing the skin barrier), plus hyaluronic acid. Your body produces hyaluronic acid naturally in the eyes, skin, and joints, and it’s got many benefits — one of which is hydration. (Case in point: a quarter teaspoon of hyaluronic acid holds about one and a half gallons of water.) It can also help make skin flexible and heal wounds.

 Together with ceramides, hyaluronic acid can offer relief for itchy, dry skin.

All that good stuff is evident in how this lotion performs. It absorbs quickly, has a silky feeling, and even works well under makeup. That may be due to CeraVe’s proprietary MultiVesicular Emulsion technology, which the brand says is a structure of time-released spheres that moisturize in multiple phases.

Best at the Drugstore

Cetaphil Moisturizing Lotion

$15.17 at Amazon
$15.97Now 5% Off
Buy on Amazon $15.17

Pros

  • Widely available in stores, online
  • Contains niacinamide, panthenol, and glycerin for hydration
  • Absorbs quickly
  • Free of fragrance, parabens, lanolin, sulfates
  • NEA Seal of Acceptance

Cons

  • May feel greasy to some
  • Not for those who prefer a lighter texture

Key Specs

  • Notable ingredients: Niacinamide (B3), panthenol (B5), glycerin
  • Face or body: Both
  • Scented: No
  • NEA Seal of Acceptance: Yes
For people with eczema, it’s a blessing to know that dry skin relief is never further away than the nearest drugstore. Cetaphil Moisturizing Lotion contains niacinamides to help boost hydration and calm redness. It’s also made with panthenol (vitamin B5) and glycerin, humectants that can help keep your skin moist.

 

 This lotion works just as well on the face as the hands and body, which is another reason we love that it’s so accessible — if you’re traveling and need to grab moisturizer, this will do the trick all over. Plus, the pump locks, so this won’t leak if you’re taking it on the go.

Cetaphil’s texture is thick and creamy, and it absorbs quickly, leaving skin feeling hydrated, and has no noticeable smell.

Best for Kids

Evereden Protecting Baby Lotion

$24.30 at Amazon
$27Now 10% Off
Buy on Amazon $24.30

Pros

  • Formulated especially for newborns
  • Contains glycerin, shea butter to moisturize
  • Free from fragrance, sulfates, parabens, phthalates, petrolatum
  • NEA Seal of Acceptance

Cons

  • Texture may feel greasy to some
  • May be difficult to dispense

Key Specs

  • Notable ingredients: Glycerin, shea butter, sunflower seed oil, avocado oil, coconut oil
  • Face or body: Both
  • Scented: No
  • NEA Seal of Acceptance: Yes

Even if you’ve managed with eczema as an adult and know the ins and outs, seeing your child live with it can be heartbreaking. For all kids — and especially for newborns and babies — you want to find the right product that is sure to help, not harm, and to offer real relief.

Evereden Protecting Baby Lotion is developed specifically for newborns, but works for kids of all ages — and adults, too. With shea butter and sunflower seed oil (the latter of which the brand uses in all of its products), this lotion is extremely soothing and moisturizing.

 

 It is thick, absorbs quickly, and is helpful for calming dry patches. It’s recommended to apply after bath time for best results.

Comparison Table

Best for
Notable Ingredients
Face or Body
Scented
NEA Seal of Acceptance
Eucerin Advanced Repair Lotion
Daily Use
Ceramide-3, glycerin, urea, shea butter
Body
No
No
Buy Now $12.32
Vanicream Moisturizing Lotion
No-Frills
Petrolatum, propylene glycol 
Face and body
No
Yes
Buy Now $13.53
Gold Bond Eczema Relief Medicated Skin Protectant Cream
Hands
Colloidal oatmeal, aloe, shea butter extract
Body
No
Yes
Buy Now $16.11
Nécessaire The Body Lotion
Body
Niacinamide, peptides, glycerin, shea butter
Body
No
Yes
Buy Now $46.80
Cortizone-10 Intensive Healing Lotion for Eczema
Itch Relief
1 percent hydrocortisone
For use on affected areas only
No
Yes
Buy Now $8.88
CeraVe Daily Moisturizing Lotion
Lightweight
Ceramides, hyaluronic acid
Face and body
No
Yes
Buy Now $13.62
Cetaphil Moisturizing Lotion
Drugstore
Niacinamide, panthenol, glycerin
Face and body
No
Yes
Buy Now $15.17
Evereden Protecting Baby Lotion
Kids
Glycerin, shea butter, sunflower seed oil
Face and body
No
Yes
Buy Now $24.30

How We Chose the Best Lotions for Eczema

I’ve had eczema all my life, and I have over a decade of experience writing about health, wellness, and lifestyle topics. To come up with our picks for the best lotions for eczema, I considered my first-hand experience, read hundreds of reviews from other people with eczema, and spoke to three dermatologists to narrow it down to our top eight picks.

I asked our experts for specific product recommendations and guidance on topics like when lotion is appropriate for eczema (as opposed to cream or ointment), what ingredients they look for in lotions for eczema, and which ingredients to avoid. Finally, I spent time reading studies to back up their recommendations and ensured that each product recommended met their criteria. Here are the experts I consulted:

  • Jacquelyn Dosal, MD, board-certified dermatologist at The Dermatology House in Park City, Utah
  • Dina Strachan, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at Aglow Dermatology in New York City

What to Consider When Buying a Lotion for Eczema

When shopping for lotions to calm your eczema, look for products that are fragrance-free and don’t contain alcohol. Also, keep an eye out for eczema-friendly ingredients like ceramides, colloidal oatmeal, hyaluronic acid, and glycerin. You can also get peace of mind by looking for the NEA Seal of Acceptance. For a product to meet the NEA’s standards, it undergoes testing for sensitivity, irritation, and toxicity by the NEA’s Scientific Oversight Committee. The committee also reviews the product’s ingredients and formulation data.

What’s the Difference Between Lotion, Cream, and Ointment?

In short: water content. “Ointments have the least amount of water and tend to be greasy and more occlusive,” said Dosal. “Creams have more water than an ointment, and lotions have the most water.”

As far as when to use which kind of treatment, Dosal says that ointments are better for trapping in moisture and are better for sensitive or damaged skin. Creams, made from oil in a water base, are still great for hydration and have the bonus of being a bit easier to spread. Finally, lotions are the most lightweight, making them easier to spread over large areas and better for skin that’s not extremely dry.

What’s the Difference Between Eczema and Psoriasis?

It’s easy to confuse eczema and psoriasis since they can both present with patches of red, dry, itchy skin. But they are different conditions. Eczema is an inflammation of the skin that makes you more prone to infection. Psoriasis is a chronic, immune-mediated disease that results in skin changes.

While they are both related to the immune system, they function differently. The central inflammatory process in eczema is associated with an allergic type of inflammation, whereas the central inflammatory process in psoriasis is associated with a branch of the immune system that’s involved in fighting fungal and bacterial skin infections.

Will My Eczema Get Better or Worse as I Get Older?

There’s no guarantee that eczema will get better or worse as you age. Although the condition is common in children and may improve after childhood, it can return as you age. Eczema can also appear for the first time later in life.

FAQ

What’s better for eczema: lotion, cream, or ointment?
“Ointment will always be the best in terms of efficacy, but you don't always want to use ointments everywhere, and some people don't like the way they feel,” says Dosal. Although she always recommends ointments, which are better at locking in moisture and soothing skin, creams and lotions remain key components of an overall eczema tool kit.
The three-minute rule refers to applying your ointment, cream, or lotion within three minutes of bathing your skin. “Any product should ideally be used right after the shower, within three minutes, and after a pat dry, to lock in moisture,” Dosal says.
There’s no one guaranteed way to calm eczema flares fast. That said, bathing regularly and applying gentle moisturizer consistently can help keep flares to a minimum. Other things that may help: wearing soft, breathable clothing; applying a cold compress or ice pack to skin; and sleeping with a humidifier.

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Jana Pollack

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Jana Pollack is a freelance writer, editor, and creative strategist with significant experience writing about health, wellness, and lifestyle topics, including mental health, fitness, parenting, and food. She values conversational writing that puts the reader at ease while conveying real value, and always aims to leave the reader feeling calm and prepared to take action.

Previously, she worked for theSkimm and BuzzFeed in their branded content studios, and she has bylines at Romper, Insider, and Jenny Mag. Early in her career, she spent two years as an editorial assistant at UpToDate.

She lives in Boston with her husband and young son, and spends all of her free time reading.

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Jacquelyn Dosal

Jacquelyn Dosal, MD

Medical Reviewer

Jacquelyn Dosal, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist practicing at The Dermatology House in Park City, Utah. Her areas of expertise include acne, rosacea, integrative treatments of inflammatory skin diseases, as well as laser treatment of the skin and injectables.

Dr. Dosal writes cosmetic questions for the certifying exams for the American Board of Dermatology. She is also the deputy editor for the American Academy of Dermatology's podcast, Dialogues in Dermatology.

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Their longtime interest in mental health, chronic illness, disability, neurodivergence, and LGBTQIA+ issues was sparked first by their own firsthand experiences, and was further refined during their academic career, having earned dual bachelor's degrees in Anthropology and Women's and Gender Studies.

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Resources
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