When you think of a newborn baby, you probably have visions of smooth, velvety skin. After all, the phrase “smooth as a baby’s bottom” had to come from somewhere. So, what do you do if you discover that your little one is itchy, flaky, and covered in a skin rash?
If you’ve found yourself in this position, welcome to the world of baby eczema. Sometimes, offering your baby a quick supervised soak in the bath — no more than 10 to 15 minutes — followed by eczema cream can help lock moisture in.
Which cream? Well, that’s a tough question. You may find that your baby’s skin responds better to some treatments than others. This means you might have to try a few to find the best choice for you.
To help you on your quest, we’ve selected what we feel are the best baby eczema creams out there.
How we chose the best baby eczema creams
So, how do you know which creams are more likely to be effective? You’ll want to look for one that doesn’t irritate your baby’s skin.
You’ll also want to make sure that it locks in moisture to help treat the current flare-up while providing a barrier to prevent future flare-ups.
When choosing our favorite baby eczema creams, we tried to find ones that had a higher chance of success by considering:
- whether it’s a cream, lotion, or ointment
- if it’s fragrance-free
- if it’s hypoallergenic
Creams tend to be thick and good for all-day use, but they can include allergenic preservatives or fragrances that can make eczema worse.
Ointments tend to be very greasy and are not appropriate for weeping eczema. However, they have a lesser chance of stinging or burning than creams and lotions and tend to be more moisturizing. They may be better tolerated by infants.
Lotions have fewer fats than creams, and they’re usually water-based. This makes them easier to rub into the body but less effective at moisturizing skin.
Just because a cream is organic or natural, it doesn’t guarantee it’s hypoallergenic, so you’ll want to double-check for that distinction.
Also, we know that price can be a factor, so we made sure to keep that in mind.
What Clears Up Baby Eczema?
Moisturize your baby’s skin twice a day or as often as necessary to achieve relief. Consider topical corticosteroids. Commonly used to treat eczema, these medications help reduce inflammation and symptoms, such as itching. Topical corticosteroids come in many forms, including ointments, creams, sprays and lotions.
Eczema often affects young skin, which is more sensitive to irritation. However, using eczema creams on a baby can help relieve symptoms.
Different types of products can treat eczema. According to a 2017 articleTrusted Source, there is no scientific evidence that ranks one product above another. The products that a person chooses are typically down to personal preference.
However, there are many creams and lotions available for sensitive infant skin. This article lists ten over-the-counter (OTC) creams to help treat eczema in babies.
Please note that all information below is research-based, and the article does not recommend certain products over others. The author has not personally tested the products.
What to look for
According to a 2017 literature reviewTrusted Source, there is no single best cream for treating eczema, as the effectiveness of a product varies according to the frequency and severity of a person’s skin irritations.
However, products containing hydrocortisone and colloidal oatmeal are two active ingredients that may benefit eczema relief. Colloidal oatmeal contains active compounds that provideTrusted Source moisturizing, protective, and anti-inflammatory effects.
Hydrocortisone can help reduce swelling, itching, and irritation in eczema. However, a person should only use hydrocortisone creams on children under the age of 10 years after following consultations with a doctor.
Cream preferences will also depend on individual skin types. For example, lotions have a higher water content than creams and ointments. This makes lotions easier to apply but less suitable for dry skin, as they evaporate faster than ointments or creams.
Product list
Please note that the writer of this article has not tried these products. All information presented is purely research-based and correct at the time of publication.
Medical News Today follows a strict product selection and vetting process. Learn more here.
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Aveeno Baby Eczema Therapy Moisturizing Cream
According to Aveeno, this product can help care for dry, irritated, and itchy skin in infants.
The moisturizing cream is rich in texture and contains natural colloidal oatmeal and vitamin B5 to reduce inflammation.
Its rich texture can temporarily protect skin and relieve irritation due to eczema and other rashes.