The Best Baby Eczema Creams
For babies with eczema and dry skin, creams are a need-to-have part of their daily routine. And finding the right baby eczema cream to treat your baby’s eczema can be a life-saver for little ones dealing with that constant itch.
We surveyed over 100 parents of babies with eczema, and spoke to 10 pediatricians and allergists for their recommendations. We bought and tried all the creams for this list in order to truly understand the texture and benefits of each one.
While we list doctors’ and parents’ recommendations, one of the most common phrases we heard from parents and doctors alike was“I’ve tried everything and only this worked for me.” You may have to try multiple options from this list to find the one that works for your baby and fits into your routine.
Who Should Buy Eczema Creams?
Everyone! Not just those suffering from eczema. The defining feature of the best eczema creams is how they nourish the skin and protect it for up to 24 hours. A good cream can become part of a daily skin care routine, protecting your baby’s skin barrier.
Emollients help keep your baby’s skin hydrated, and are effective at treating and minimizing existing eczema flares.
Consider creams that come in both full size and travel size, especially for little ones who need frequent application after washing hands or at day care.
What makes a good Baby Eczema Cream?
The most important attributes of a baby eczema cream are
- They do not sting or irritate baby’s skin
- They lock-in moisture to allow eczema flares to heal
- They prevent future flare-ups by creating an additional barrier
Emollients do all of these things and can be called creams, ointments, or lotions.
What’s the Difference Between Creams, Ointments, and Lotions?
Creams contain a mixture of fat and water that make them thick and good for all day use. However, they each contain preservatives and people can become sensitive to them.
Ointments are free of preservatives and are very good at holding in water, but they tend to be very greasy and many find that unacceptable. Ointments should not be used on weeping eczema – use a cream or lotion instead.
Lotions contain more water and less fat than creams, making them easier to rub into skin, but less effective at moisturizing. They may be best for hairy areas of the body.
And now, our list of the best eczema creams for babies:
All-Around Winner:
CeraVe Moisturizing Cream
Why Doctors Love It:
CeraVe Moisturizing Cream both reinforces the skin barrier with ceramides 1, 3 & 6-II and hydrates the skin with hyaluronic acid. Developed with dermatologists and approved by the National Eczema Association, doctors say CeraVe is ideal for dry and very dry skin. It can be used anywhere on the face or body, and absorbs without leaving a greasy feel. CeraVe can be used multiple times a day, especially after baths to lock in moisture. It is oil-free and fragrance-free for those with sensitive skin. CeraVe makes multiple products, which sound very similar. However, the moisturizing cream and moisturizing lotion have different ingredients and work differently.
Ingredients:
Aqua / Water / Eau, Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetyl Alcohol, Ceteareth-20, Petrolatum, Potassium Phosphate, Ceramide Np, Ceramide Ap, Ceramide Eop, Carbomer, Dimethicone, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Cholesterol, Phenoxyethanol, Disodium Edta, Dipotassium Phosphate, Tocopherol, Phytosphingosine, Xanthan Gum, Ethylhexylglycerin.
Selected Review:
"My daughter has severe eczema, where she'll claw herself until she bleeds. We tried everything and eventually the doctor pointed us to CeraVe. The cream does an amazing job. We have to give my daughter a bath every night and it goes on right after. It's thick but it doesn't weigh down like a lot of creams. We rub it in until you see a little bit of white still left and then put her in long pj's to give the most moisturizing capabilities. This stuff as allowed my kid to be a kid. She rarely screams anymore when we have to put this one because it takes care of the itching so she isn't breaking skin. Honestly this stuff is amazing." - Erin on Amazon
Allergist-Preferred:
Vaseline 100% Petroleum Jelly
Why Doctors Love It:
Vaseline 100% Petroleum Jelly is a perennial favorite of pediatricians because of its simple ingredients and the thick coat (almost like a second skin) it places over compromised areas of skin. Vaseline is used to heal dry, damaged, or cracked skin and can also provide cover for minor cuts and burns.
Vaseline is also recommended by the National Eczema Association as suitable for use all over including hands, feet, elbows and heels. Almost nothing beats petroleum jelly to lock in moisture after a bath, and parents love that applying it never causes a stinging sensation on baby's skin. A key to using 100% pure petroleum jelly to treat baby eczema is to spread a thin layer over the skin. Make sure to work into exposed skin on hands and feet. Using too much or not working it into the skin can create a sticky mess that gets onto clothing
Ingredients:
100% pure petrolatum.
Selected Review:
"I have eczema and always keep Vaseline around to protect my skin. This is a large container that's perfect to keep in the bathroom for everyday use. It protects my skin better than anything else I've found and never irritates it." - Bobby on Amazon
Eucerin Eczema Relief Body Cream
Why Doctors Love It:
Eucerin Eczema Relief Body Cream has been clinically proven to relieve itch, increase skin moisturization, and protect eczema-prone skin. This Colloidal Oatmeal-based cream is known for its itch relief while the ceramides make it easier to smooth into skin. The cream can be spread on daily or multiple times a day as needed without a sticky feel. In a clinical study, 4 out of 5 children remained flare-free for 6 months with daily use. Eucerin Eczema Relief Body Cream is free of steroids, fragrances, and dyes.
Ingredients:
Colloidal Oatmeal 1% (Skin Protectant) Inactive Ingredients - Water Glycerin Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil Mineral Oil Cetyl Alcohol Glyceryl Stearate Caprylic-Capric-Triglyceride Octyldodecanol Cetyl Palmitate PEG-40 Stearate Glycyrrhiza Inflata Root Extract Ceramide NP 1-2-Hexanediol Phenoxyethanol Piroctone Olamine Caprylyl Glycol Ethylhexylglycerin Benzyl Alcohol Citric Acid.
Selected Review:
"Excellent lotion, I use it as chapstick (doesn't give that weird lotion feel to your lips). I put it on every night after I brush my teeth, and I'm set. I have severe dry skin, and it works that well. My two boys with eczema use it along with several other things, and we just call it "lip lotion" at our house, because it's the only thing that works well on our lips. We use it everywhere else, too, but it helps differentiate which tub I mean for the 5 and 6 year old." - Heather on Amazon
Vanicream Moisturizing Skin Cream
Why Doctors Love It:
Allergists love that Vanicream Moisturizing Skin Cream is a thick, smooth moisturizing cream that helps restore and maintain a normal moisture level. It is petrolatum-based, meaning it is gentle and effective on even the youngest skin. But with additional moisturizing ingredients, it is thin enough to go through a pump. Allergists recommend their patients smooth this on after baths and before going out in the sun or cold weather. Because the formula is free of dyes, fragrance, lanolin, parabens and formaldehyde, fewer people report reactions or irritations from Vanicream. It has been awarded the seal of acceptance from the National Eczema Association.
Ingredients:
Purified water, petrolatum, sorbitol, cetearyl alcohol, propylene glycol, ceteareth-20, simethicone, glyceryl stearate, PEG-30 stearate, sorbic acid, BHT.
Selected Review:
"LOOOOOOOVE THIS!!!!! Bought this cream originally for my infant son instead of using the standard baby lotions. I'm a pediatric nurse and have used so many different types of baby lotions. They weren't cutting it with his dry skin. I have eczema myself and know that some creams can sting when the skin is cracked. I also like that this cream is thick! Most definitely keeps an awesome moisture barrier. I wish I had discovered this earlier! I will recommend this to everyone I know!!!!!!" - Katherine on Amazon
Cetaphil Pro Eczema Soothing Moisturizing
Why Doctors Love It:
Cetaphil Pro Eczema Soothing Moisturizer is made with a combination of colloidal oatmeal, ceramide and patented Filaggrin technology to hydrate and calm dry, itchy, eczema and atopic prone skin. Some allergists say it has the best of Eucerin and CeraVe combined. It has been tested by dermatologists and proven to be gentle on sensitive skin. The colloidal oatmeal calms itchy skin, breaking the scratching and damage cycle, while the 15 moisturizers hydrate and nourish skin to help it heal. Cetaphil has received the seal of acceptance from the National Eczema Association, and is also fragrance free & paraben free.
Ingredients:
Active Ingredients: Avobenzone 3%, Octocrylene 10% Inactive Ingredients: Water, Diisopropyl Adipate, Cyclomethicone, Glycerin, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Polymethyl Methacrylate, Phenoxyethanol, Benzyl Alcohol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Tocopheryl Acetate, Carbomer 940, Disodium EDTA, Triethanolamine.
Selected Review:
"My 3 year old son had eczema for his whole life. This soothing moisturizer helps a lot!! His red skin disappears and starts to heal. You know how their skin gets hotter when they have eczema? This product helps to calm it down. For myself, I also have irritated skin and this is not stinging or burning. Try this one. I recommend it." - Estelle on Amazon
Parent-Preferred:
Aquaphor Healing Ointment
Why Parents Love It:
Aquaphor is the answer for parents who want the protective benefits of petrolatum to soothe skin and kids who can't stand the stickiness. Aquaphor is made with 41% petrolatum to allow oxygen to flow and help heal the skin, and panthenol and glycerin to moisturize, nourish and protect the skin to enhance healing. Aquaphor can be used anywhere on the body including chapped lips, minor scrapes, cuts, and burns. For babies whose skin is affected by cold weather, Aquaphor can create a second skin that keeps the wind off. And it does all this without preservatives or added fragrances
Ingredients:
Petrolatum (41%) Inactive ingredients: Mineral Oil, Ceresin, Lanolin Alcohol, Panthenol, Glycerin, Bisabolol.
Selected Review:
"My son who is 2 had impertigo and ever since that cleared up he now has sensitive skin above his lips and he kept having a red blotchy rash with little dots around mouth and was so sensitive around the mouth. After lots of doctors prescriptions, creams, antibiotics, and steroid creams, this is the only cream that worked for him!! Excellent!" - Morgan on Amazon
Vermont Bag Balm
Why Parents Love It:
What started as a balm for Vermont's farmers working through tough weather is now a trusted baby eczema treatment. Vermont's Original Bag Balm® Skin Moisturizer ointment can heal cracked, dry skin and replenish moisture. Parents feel great about the simple, four ingredient formula and its over 100 years of history healing skin. The ointment is thick enough to create a strong skin cover, while the addition of lanolin makes it pliable enough to work into skin.
Ingredients:
Petrolatum, Lanolin, 8-Hydroxy Quinoline Sulfate 0.3%, Paraffin Wax.
Selected Review:
"This product is absolutely amazing. I have severe eczema and it has worked like a charm to keep it away" - Joshua
Tubby Todd
Why Parents Love It:
Parents love Tubby Todd All Over Ointment because of the clean ingredients and that it can work on the face, diaper area, and body. It is a rich, creamy ointment made from plant-based extracts like jojoba, beeswax, and honeysuckle. Survey respondents liked how thick it was, that it rubbed into baby's skin smoothly, and that it did not leave a film on cloth diapers. Tubby Todd is not sold on Amazon
Ingredients:
Water, Glycerin, Stearic Acid, Propanediol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetyl Alcohol, Saccharomyces Ferment Filtrate, Jojoba Esters, Stearyl Alcohol, Beeswax, Lonicera Caprifolium (Honeysuckle) Flower Extract, Lonicera Japonica (Honeysuckle) Flower Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Cucumis Sativus (Cucumber) Fruit Extract, Mangifera Indica (Mango) Fruit Extract, Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Fruit Extract.
Selected Review:
"I have been using AOO for my 6 month old daughter for almost 3 months. When she was 3 months old, her skin just flared up so badly. I tried so many different brands of baby eczema cream but nothing worked. She cried and screamed when I gave her baths and put cream on her body. I was so frustrated and helpless. That’s when I saw a Tuddy Tub commercial online. After reading a lot of good reviews, I gave it a try. I put AOO on her body every time I change her diapers, even between. In one week, I started to see a difference in her skin. In two weeks, her skin got much better and smoother. 3 months later? She’s got soft and beautiful skin back. What can I say more? AOO is just amazing." - Bokyung on Tubby Todd
bebaby
Why Parents Love It:
The only cream on the market developed by a board certified allergist/immunologist and mom, bebaby is a moisturizer with all the ingredients needed to protect the delicate skin barrier while avoiding allergic triggers that may lead to more severe allergies later in life. Ceramides and petroleum jelly help nurture the skin barrier, and the unique hydrolyzed hyaluronic acid helps draw moisture into the skin, unlike hyaluronic acid which just sits on top the skin.
There are no food derivatives in this product as these ingredients may increase
the risk of developing allergies. Additionally, the pH of the cream closely mirrors the acidity of the skin which has proven to be vital for the skin to function properly. Bebaby is packaged in eco-friendly packaging and a portion of all proceeds goes towards Every Mother Counts, a charity that helps deliver maternal healthcare around the world. Loved by pediatricians and allergists, this cream has 5 star reviews and can be used multiple times a day all over the body.
Ingredients:
Water/Aqua/Eau, Petrolatum USP, Glyceryl Stearate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Propanediol, Glycerin, Isopropyl Myristate, Dimethicone, Isononyl Isononanoate, Carbomer, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Xanthan Gum, Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP, Ceramide EOP, Phytosphingosine, Cholesterol, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Potassium Sorbate.
Selected Review:
"Our daughter suffers with eczema, especially on her legs. We have used many creams before, but bebaby is by far the best we have used! Not only has it cleared up her eczema, it has also kept it away! We haven't had to use her steroid cream since starting bebaby. We highly recommend this product to anyone who has a child suffering from eczema." - Jada L