Lotion Ingredients To Watch Out For If You Have Eczema

Eczema can cause many unpleasant symptoms, including increased skin sensitivity. While frequently moisturizing can help reduce eczema flare ups, many common ingredients found in over-the-counter lotions can make eczema worse.

Potential irritants can cause inflammation, flare-ups, or even allergic reactions in eczema sufferers. Everyone’s skin is different, of course, so you should talk to a dermatologist about the best skin care routine for you if you suffer from eczema. However, below we can offer some guidelines about what to watch out for if you have eczema.

Fragrances

While it can be tempting to invest in a lotion with a pleasant smell, fragrances are notoriously harsh for those with sensitive skin. Fragrances are a very common skin allergen, even for people without eczema. For eczema sufferers, the effects can be even worse.

Fragrances can cause itchiness, flare-ups, and redness if you have eczema. Look for products marked “safe for sensitive skin” or “fragrance free” to limit your exposure to potential irritants.

Essential Oils

While often touted as a natural solution for all sorts of skin ailments, essential oils are a surprisingly common skin irritant. Contrary to popular belief, they’re not necessarily a safe alternative to artificial additives when it comes to created scented lotions.

This is especially true for those with conditions like eczema whose skin is already extra sensitive to irritants.

Lotion for eczema

Some anecdotal evidence suggests essential oils like lavender, eucalyptus, and jojoba help with eczema when properly diluted. However, they have also been known to cause adverse side effects. If you do use lotions with essential oils, monitor your skin carefully afterwards. If you notice signs of an eczema flare-up, there’s a good chance that essential oils are the culprit.

Botanical Oils

Another supposedly safe substitute for artificial ingredients, botanical oils can definitely create enticing scents. However, for those with eczema, they can also yield unpleasant reactions like itchiness, irritation, or flare-ups.

Natural ingredients are not always better than chemical ones, especially if you already have a skin condition. Herbal ingredients – rose oil, vanilla oil, and almond oil in particular – can be irritants for those with eczema.

Chemical or Physical Exfoliators

While many find regularly exfoliating helps with eczema and sensitive skin in general, not all exfoliators are created equal. Many exfoliating lotions contain both physical and chemical irritants.

Chemical exfoliators include Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHAs) and Beta Hydroxy Acids (BHAs), which go by names like salicylic acid, lactic acid, and citric acid.

Lotion for eczema

Physical exfoliators – while more frequently found in body wash than lotion – include things like beads, scrubs, and other textured cleansers.

If you’re going to exfoliate with eczema, make sure you avoid these ingredients and monitor your skin closely before and after the solution.

Ethanol 

Often used as a preservative in lotion, ethanol can be incredibly harsh on sensitive skin. If you have eczema, it can cause your skin to burn or dry out, especially in sensitive areas. It’s recommended those with eczema avoid ethanol, as they can cause or exacerbate eczema.

Alcohols in skin care ingredients are often listed toward the bottom of the label, where it’s easy to miss. Make sure to read ingredient labels carefully – especially with gel-like lotions – to ensure they’re free of ethanol.

Propylene Glycol

While it is a popular addition to many common moisturizers, propylene glycol is one of the most common skin irritants. In fact, it was named the Allergen of the Year in 2018 by the American Contact Dermatitis Society. If you have eczema, you’re all the more likely to be negatively affected by propylene glycol.

Propylene glycol is not just found in lotion. It’s in many skincare products like cosmetics and is occasionally even used in eczema-specific moisturizers. While it has positive effects for some, propylene glycol should be used with extreme caution by those with eczema.

Retinoids

Retinoids have anti-aging properties and are often used on acne. However, they tend to worsen symptoms of eczema. In fact, they’ve been known to trigger flare-ups.

If you have eczema, be careful to avoid retinoids. Like many other common lotion ingredients, retinoids are found in many other skincare products, so always read ingredient labels closely.

Sulfates 

Sulfates are one of the most common cleaning agents, but they’re also a well-known irritant. Sulfates can dry out skin and cause itchiness for anyone, but are even more likely to cause problems for people with eczema.

Sulfates, like many other irritants, aren’t just found in lotion either. Keep an eye out for sulfates in everything from soap to shampoo to toothpaste to laundry detergents. If you have eczema, hidden sources of sulfates can cause or worsen flare-ups.

What Should I Look For In Lotion?

By now, you’ve probably gathered the less ingredients the better when it comes to lotions for eczema. Artificial ingredients tend to cause the most trouble, but keep in mind natural additives like essential and botanical oils are also bad news for those with eczema.

Beyond avoiding certain ingredients, oil content is also important. If you have eczema, you want to opt for lotions and moisturizers with higher oil contents. Ointments and creams, in fact, may work better than lotions as they tend to have more oil.

If you’re looking for a safe solution for eczema, we recommend Delfina Dry Skin Oil. 

Delfina Dry Skin Oil is made from natural products and has effectively helped many patients manage eczema flare-ups. It is also a spray-on oil, so it is not greasy or messy like many oil-based products.

You can read about how Delfina Dry Skin oil helped other eczema patients here, and learn more about how it works here.

In addition to sulfates, there are a number of other triggers that can cause an eczema flare-up. These include: stress, changes in temperature or humidity, exposure to allergens or irritants, and dry skin.

  • Stress
  • Changes in temperature or humidity
  • Exposure to allergens or irritants
  • Scented products

Scented Products

Did you know that some scented products can actually trigger an eczema flare-up? If you suffer from eczema, it is best to avoid using scented products altogether so as to keep your skin in good condition.

Scented products, including perfumes, colognes, body sprays, and deodorants, can contain a variety of chemicals that can irritate the skin. In addition to causing irritation, these chemicals can also disrupt the natural balance of bacteria on the skin, which can lead to infection. 

If you must use scented products, it is best to choose those that are hypoallergenic and free from fragrances, dyes, and other potential irritants. You should also avoid applying scented products directly to your skin; instead, apply them to your clothing or hair.

Avoiding irritants like soaps and detergents, dust mites, animal dander, mold, certain fabrics, and hot showers can help prevent eczema flare-ups and keep your skin healthy.

Detergents

If you suffer from eczema, it is best to use a hypoallergenic soap or cleanser that is free from fragrances, dyes, and other irritants. Certain laundry detergents or fabric softeners can also trigger an eczema flare-up. If you suffer from eczema, it is best to use hypoallergenic laundry detergents and avoid fabric softeners altogether.

Therefore, if you are prone to the condition of eczema, it is best to avoid potential irritants that can trigger a flare-up, which include:

  • Soaps and detergents
  • Dust mites
  • Animal dander
  • Mold
  • Certain fabrics

Certain fabrics

Certain fabrics, such as wool or polyester, can irritate the skin and cause an eczema flare-up. To avoid this, wear loose-fitting clothing made from natural fibers, such as cotton. Other potential irritants that can trigger an eczema flare-up include dust mites, animal dander, and mold.

Certain fabrics, such as wool or polyester, can also irritate the skin and cause an eczema flare-up. As such, it is best to wear loose-fitting clothing made from natural fibers, such as cotton.

Hot showers

Hot showers can strip the natural oils from your skin, which can lead to dryness and irritation. Lukewarm showers are a better option.

You should also avoid soaps and detergents, dust mites, animal dander, mold, certain fabrics, and hot showers. Hot showers can strip the natural oils from the skin, which can lead to dryness and irritation - two triggers for an eczema flare-up. If you suffer from eczema, it is best to take lukewarm showers instead of hot showers.

In addition, it is important to avoid soaps and detergents, dust mites, animal dander, mold, certain fabrics, and hot showers.Be careful! Avoid direct steam and hot water.

While there is no cure for eczema, there are nevertheless treatments that can help to control the symptoms. These include moisturizing creams and ointments, corticosteroid creams and ointments, antihistamines, phototherapy, and oils. The most proven and effective solution has been Delfina Dry Skin Oil.

The Bottom Line

Eczema can be a source of discomfort and pain, so we understand that finding an effective solution option is important. While over-the-counter lotions and moisturizers often help with temporary relief, many also contain ingredients that make symptoms worse in the long run.

If you’re looking for an over-the-counter product for eczema, look for oil-based ointments and creams with minimal artificial ingredients. Everyone’s skin is different, so finding the right product for you may take some trial and error. Be patient and, eventually, you should find something that helps.

Delfina Dry Skin Oil contains a natural formula that caters to all your dry skin needs

“Delfina

If you have any questions about Delfina Dry Skin Oil or eczema solution options, we are always here to help. Feel free to reach out for more information.