10 Best Eczema Creams & Over-the-Counter Treatments (2024)
Skin-friendly gentle formulas to exclusively treat sensitive skin problems.
Dr. Enrizza Factor is a Diplomate of the Philippine Dermatological Society and Fellow of the Philippine Academy of Dermatologic Surgery Foundation Inc. She is also a member of the Philippine Academy of Cutaneous Surgery and an Associate of the Philippine Society of Venerology Inc.
Read full bio of Dr. Enrizza Factor
Experience: 3 yearsKirtana has a postgraduate degree in mass communication and journalism from St. Joseph’s College, Bengaluru, and 3 years of professional experience. She developed a deep passion for writing after reading the brilliant works of Enid Blyton and Roald Dahl and has chosen a career that is driven by creativity.
Read full bio of Kirtana Divakar
Experience: 4 yearsShiboli has a master’s degree in English literature from The English and Foreign Languages University, Hyderabad, and is a certified skincare coach with four years of experience. As a commerce editor, she guides her team members on the best practices to create crisp and authentic content.
Read full bio of Shiboli Chakraborti
Experience: 3 yearsSwathi has a postgraduate degree in English literature from The English And Foreign Languages University, Hyderabad, and over three years of experience in writing on beauty, health, and lifestyle. She also has a diploma in English journalism from the Indian Institute of Mass Communication, Kottayam, and is a certified skincare coach.
Read full bio of Swathi E
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Eczema is one of the most common skin conditions, and it must come as a relief that you’re not alone if you have eczema. Most skincare brands cater to this skin condition, and it is therefore very easy to access the best eczema cream over the counter. If you have been encountering any of the symptoms of eczema, such as red patches, irritation of the skin, or dryness and flakiness, using a cream scientifically-formulated exclusively for this condition can help solve the issue.
Dr. Enrizza Factor, dermatologist, Philippine Dermatological Society, says, “Lotions that are hypoallergenic are also a good choice. Some products, such as CeraVe moisturizing cream, and Cetaphil lotion, are explicitly designed to be hypoallergenic, anti-itch, and effective for those with eczema. Hydrocortisone creams are also good since hydrocortisone is an anti-inflammatory corticosteroid that can soothe severely dry skin. The strongest you can buy over the counter is 1% hydrocortisone, but your doctor can prescribe up to 2.5%. OTC steroids come in many forms, including ointments, creams, lotions, and gels. They are used to temporarily relieve itching and rashes caused by most types of eczema. OTC hydrocortisone is usually applied one to four times a day for up to seven days.”
These creams are infused with ingredients that calm and soothe your skin, preventing it from being excessively dry while also keeping redness at bay. If you’re ready to show some love to your skin, we can make it easier for you with our list of the 10 best creams for eczema that are available over the counter. We have conducted extensive research, so be assured that these creams come from reliable brands. So, what are you waiting for? Go through our list of the bests and pick what you like the most!
In This Article
Top 10 Over-The-Counter Eczema Creams For Soothing Dry And Itchy Skin
1. Best Dermatologically-Tested: Aveeno Eczema Therapy Daily Moisturizing Cream
Suppose you’re looking for a daily moisturizer that not only keeps your skin hydrated, supple, and smooth but also treats dryness, rashes, allergies. Well, in that case, you have to try the Aveeno Eczema Therapy Daily Moisturizing Cream. Active ingredients include colloidal oatmeal, which serves as an emollient for the skin and gives visible results. It helps soften and protect the skin surface, preventing itchiness and inflammation. The dermatologically-tested formula also includes ceramide that helps keep the moisture in place and promotes a healthy skin barrier. What we love about this over-the-counter eczema cream is that it is free of steroids and fragrances, making it ideal for sensitive and dry skin. This video will give you more insights into the product.
- Steroid-free
- Fragrance-free
- Dermatologically tested
- Keeps skin hydrated and supple
- Treats dryness, rashes, and allergies
- May need more than one layer to be effective
Caution
Why We Think It's Worth Buying
It has received 1,086 reviews on Amazon and is a popular choice among shoppers.
2. Best Quick-Absorbing: Neosporin Eczema Essentials Daily Moisturizing Cream
Since time immemorial, Neosporin has been associated with relieving, healing, treating skin conditions and injuries. And for good reason, too! The Neosporin Eczema Essentials Daily Moisturizing Cream is no different and provides relief and protection for itchy, flaky, and eczema-prone skin. Imagine getting an over-the-counter cooling eczema cream that contains colloidal oatmeal and unique Relipid formula, including lipids, humectant, emollient, and plant extracts. With these powers combined, the professional-grade Neosporin Eczema Essentials Daily Moisturizing Cream has been clinically proven to provide visible results in less than a week! What’s more is that there are no fragrances, steroids, or antibiotics in the mix, so that you can use this daily without a worry!
- Ideal for flare-ups and breakages
- Non-greasy
- Highly absorbent
- Can use as a daily moisturizer
- Significant improvement in days
- May not work as a permanent solution
3. Best For Sensitive Skin: Cetaphil Pro RESTORADERM Eczema Soothing Moisturizer
The Cetaphil Pro RestoraDerm Eczema Soothing Moisturizer is an over-the-counter dream come true for eczema-ridden skin. Have you got hives? Dry, itchy skin? Angry flare-ups on your skin? This clinically-proven eczema cream is power-packed and on a mission to heal! You’ll notice an improvement in your skin’s moisture levels within 2 days, and it only gets better from there. What’s super about this over-the-counter gentle eczema cream is that it’s non-greasy and lightweight. It gets absorbed quickly into the skin and keeps it hydrated 24/7. The patented Filaggrin technology enables quick relief for eczema and contact dermatitis-prone skin. The magic ingredients shea butter and sunflower seed oil leave your skin silky smooth, reduce skin inflammation, acne and blemishes. It further relieves itchiness and dryness, deeply moisturizing and restoring skin elasticity.
- Ideal for dryness, itchiness, hives, and flare-ups
- Suitable for sensitive skin
- Clinically- tested, hypoallergenic, and non-comedogenic
- Patented Filaggrin technology
- Ideal for children
- May take longer for visible results
Quick TipWhy We Think It's Worth Buying
With over 6,600 reviews, this product has become a fan favorite among users.
4. Best Lightweight: Skinfix Eczema Hand Repair Cream
Are you worried about clammy hands? Even when you’ve not done any rough work, you find your fingers flaking and flaring up? The Skinfix Eczema Hand Repair Cream is one over-the-counter eczema cream that can put an end to your woes. This 3 oz tube of healing goodness is the ideal over-the-counter eczema treatment for dry and cracked skin. Its unique blend of medicinal chemicals, natural butters, and emollient oils help relieve and regenerate damaged and aggravated skin cells. Some active ingredients include colloidal oatmeal and sweet almond oil, which alleviates dryness and that horrible itchy feeling.
- Ideal for flaky, scaly skin
- Value for money
- Vegan and cruelty-free
- A little goes a long way
- Lightweight
- May not be suitable for children
5. Best For Long-Term Relief: Eucerin Eczema Relief Cream
It can be really embarrassing when you’ve all decked up, and your skin around your lips and face decides to flare up unexpectedly. And being stressed about it makes it 10 times worse. But there is more than 1 solution to this problem, and Eucerin Eczema Relief Cream is a definite contender. Rich with colloidal oatmeal, ceramide, and licochalcone, this over-the-counter eczema cream has been clinically proven to treat itchiness, dryness, and mild eczema patches. The fast-absorbing formula ensures that your skin cells are deeply hydrated, repaired, and rejuvenated. It is ideal for sensitive skin and children as well. After regular application, you are left with healthy, happy, and soft skin, which you cannot wait to flaunt!
- Fragrance, dye, and steroid free
- Helps flare-ups, itchiness, dryness, and redness
- Suitable for children
- Provides long-term relief
- May not help extreme/acute eczema
Why We Think It's Worth Buying
This product is so liked by shoppers that it has gained over 11,515 great reviews on Amazon.
6. Best Non-Greasy: TriDerma Eczema Fast Healing Face and Body Cream
Get quick relief from itching and rashes with the TriDerma Eczema Fast Healing Face and Body Cream. This clinically-proven fast-acting eczema cream effectively soothes rashes, dry skin, and irritation. The non-greasy formula provides long-lasting moisture and is dermatologically-tested. It is infused with Shea butter, AP4 Aloe Vera complex, and Colloidal Oatmeal. When blended into a cream, these ingredients reduce inflammation, redness, and itching and protect your skin from dehydration.
- Dermatologist-tested
- Clinically tested
- Cruelty-free
- Fragrance-free
- Non-greasy
- Cortisone-free
- The results may be a bit slow.
7. Best Hydrating: CeraVe Eczema Relief Creamy Oil
Eczema itching can be very stressful. This cream is scientifically-formulated with colloidal oatmeal that relieves itchy, dry, and flaky skin caused due to eczema. Safflower oil moisturizes and soothes the skin, while hyaluronic acid hydrates the skin and retains its natural moisture. It is also formulated with essential ceramides that have proven efficacy to restore and maintain the skin’s natural barrier for lessening eczema triggers. This quick-absorbing formula is tested for allergies and is lightweight and can be used on the whole body.
- Quick-absorbing
- Lightweight
- Moisturizing
- Can be applied to the whole body
- Dermatologist-recommended
- Fragrance-free
- Allergy-tested
- Non-comedogenic
- Might feel greasy
Why We Think It's Worth Buying
Almost 2,255 happy users have mentioned the value and quality of this product.
8. Best Budget-Friendly: Cortizone-10 Intensive Healing Lotion For Eczema
Some eczema conditions are more stubborn than others and what you need is a power-packed over-the-counter eczema treatment solution. This dermatologically-tested over-the-counter lotion is designed to soothe eczema-ridden skin, containing a maximum strength of hydrocortisone, vitamins C, A, and E, and a blend of botanical and vitamin complex. Other inactive ingredients that add to this moisturizing mix include aloe vera, shea butter, and ginger root. You can rest assured that this mighty mix of ingredients will provide fast relief to itchy, dry, red, inflamed, and crackly skin.
- Fast relief for dry, itchy skin
- Suitable for children
- Dermatologically tested
- Affordable price range
- Visible results within days
- Non-greasy
- May require more than 1 application for lasting effect
9. Best Non-Comedogenic: Vanicream HC 1% Hydrocortisone Anti-Itch Cream
Sometimes creams meant to treat your skin can cause side effects that leave you more troubled than you were, to begin with. Not with this one! The Vanicream HC 1% Hydrocortisone Anti-Itch Cream ensures that it doesn’t leave a trail behind. It’s free of dyes, fragrances, formaldehyde, lanolin, and parabens. It remarkably reduces inflammations, minor skin irritations caused by eczema, and rashes caused by jewelry, make-up, poison ivy and oak, sumac, and insect bites! We love that this over-the-counter eczema treatment solution is non-comedogenic, which means that the creators were kind enough to make a healing mix that doesn’t cause breakouts or blackheads after application.
- Fragrance, dye, and gluten free
- Ideal for sensitive skin
- Gluten-free
- Heals and strengthens skin
- Can use on itchy face
- Suitable for children
- On the pricier side
10. Best For Reducing Flare-Ups: Exederm Flare Control Cream For Eczema Or Dermatitis
Atopic dermatitis and eczemas are very common in children but can flare up at any age and wreak havoc in your daily life. The Exederm Flare Control Cream is an excellent over-the-counter eczema cream that’ll keep those flares in check and bid farewell to itchy, scaly skin! With maximum strength hydrocortisone as an active ingredient, you can see rapid improvements in your skin within days. Their unique formula is clinically tested to be free of allergens, dyes, fragrances, synthetic materials, and anything that could aggravate your skin more.
- Ideal for flare-ups, flakes, and red patches
- Suitable for sensitive skin
- Visible improvement in days
- Can use on face
- May need more than 1 application in a day
Before you buy your over-the-counter eczema lotion or cream, here are some things to consider:
Things To Consider When Buying Over-The-Counter Eczema Cream Or Lotion
- Skin condition:
It is so important to know exactly what is irritating your skin. Often, we need to simply tweak our daily habits, diets or sleep cycles to keep our bodies healthy and happy. But sometimes, it takes a little help from a medical professional. If you have persistent skin allergies and problems, consult a dermatologist and get tested. If you do, in fact, have eczema or dermatitis, then you know you’ll need a cream that is clinically-tested to relieve the symptoms, isolate the problem and help your skin heal and regenerate.
- Skin needs :
Just like every individual is different, so is every individual need. The last thing you should do is buy a generic product that you believe will solve your problems. Eczemas have a variety of symptoms and each body reacts differently to skin irritation. Some have breakouts or rashes. Others develop inflamed red patchy skin. Then there are breakages on excessively dry skin and skin tears may even cause bleeding. So it is crucial you identify what exactly is bothering your skin the most and do a patch test to be sure of safety. This will help you decide what kind of over-the-counter eczema treatment is ideal for you.
- Ingredients :
Never buy anything without looking at the fine print. In this case, we are talking about ingredients. You do not want to apply anything on your body without having a clear idea of what goes into your over-the-counter eczema cream. Most legitimate brands will be upfront about their ingredients, down to the last chemical or herb. But if you see a tube or jar without any ingredients, walk away. Some ingredients that make an over-the-counter eczema cream buyable include hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, shea butter, vitamin B and E, ceramides, fatty acids, aloe vera, and colloidal oatmeal. If you see any or some of these in the mix, you know you’re on the right track. Always ask your dermatologist for recommendations and check if the one you’ve chosen is worth the buy.
The Bottom Line
Redness, irritation, flakes, dryness, and red patches are the common concerns of eczema-prone skin. Such skin needs special care to keep it irritation-free and healthy. The products listed in our article are particularly crafted for eczema-prone skin. These creams help to restore skin elasticity, regenerate damaged skin, and reduce eczema. They prevent inflammation and itching by promoting a healthy skin barrier. The Aveeno Eczema Therapy Daily Moisturizing Cream restores the skin’s moisture barrier, while the Eucerin Eczema Relief Cream absorbs fast to provide relief to your dry and sensitive skin. The TriDerma Eczema Fast Healing Face and Body Cream soothes and heals irritated skin without making it feel greasy. The hypoallergenic ingredients infused in these creams smooth your skin, rejuvenate the skin cells, and provide relief. Dermatologically tested creams are considered the ideal ones but avoid creams that make you feel greasy.
Why Trust StyleCraze?
The author, Kirtana Divakar, is a skin care enthusiast and finds her passion in writing well-researched reviews to help people choose the right products. For this article, she extensively researched different eczema creams available on the market and reviewed loads of user feedback for shortlisting the products mentioned above. These over-the-counter creams are replete with ingredients that soothe and hydrate the skin, preventing it from turning dry and becoming red.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long before I get to see results with my over-the-counter eczema cream?
Different over-the-counter eczema creams have different time frames, but, ideally, if you apply your chosen product regularly, you should see a marked improvement within a week, if not 3-4 days.
Do over-the-counter eczema creams work for all skin types?
Over-the-counter eczema creams essentially treat dry, flaky, itchy, red or flare-up skin.
Can we buy a steroid cream for eczema over the counter?
Yes, steroids like topical OTC hydrocortisone are available in over-the-counter eczema creams. These are mild steroids that provide temporary relief. They are available in creams, ointments, lotions and gels. Have a look at the ingredients and consult with your dermatologist before making a purchase.
What are the signs that your eczema cream is working?
A significant decrease in eczema symptoms, such as irritation and rashes, indicates that your eczema cream is working.
Is it better to keep eczema patches dry or moist?
Eczema can often be worse with dry skin. So, it’s best to keep them moisturized. Moisturizers also help create a barrier between the skin and the irritating elements around you.
Can you get rid of eczema without a steroid cream?
Yes, using coconut oil and shea butter can provide relief from eczema.
Read full bio of Dr. Enrizza Factor
Read full bio of Kirtana Divakar
Read full bio of Shiboli Chakraborti
Read full bio of Swathi E
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