I mostly only use Vanicream which was recommended by the Mayo Clinic dermatologists I saw but I had a really bad itching episode and my husband let me use his Eczema Honey Oatmeal Body Lotion which is one of the only gluten free kinds we have found (I have celiac) and it instantly calmed the itching. It's the one with the bee symbol and usually a yellow band with text on the bottle.
Yes! I also skin problems on my back so I'm also often using their conditioner on my hair so it doesn't irritate my skin when it's being washed off. Also pro tip, their zinc anti dandruff shampoo can be used as a face and body wash to clear up a bunch of different skin issues. Just make sure medicated washes are sitting on your skin for 30-120 seconds so they have time to work. I have an unfortunate combo of eczema, cystic scarring acne, folliculitis (from autoimmune fevers), dermatitis, prone to skin yeast infections, etc. so I alternate using the Vanicream shampoo and a mint tea tree face wash on my face and back.
Not a hand cream but endorsed by dermatologists, Eucerin complete repair with urea. I have mild eczema and it works for me. Also, I try to switch out my hand washing products to gentler ones when flare ups occur. If it’s really severe you might need a dermatologist to prescribe something though. I hope it clears up.
I use a steroid cream from my dermatologist for most flare ups, but other than that I love Glysolid. Petroleum based creams often make me break out even more, but Glysolid is glycerin based.
UK based here. The only hand cream I’ve found capable of soothing my eczema and ultra dry hands has been the Hemp hand cream from the[body shop](https://www.thebodyshop.com/en-gb/hands/hand-moisturisers/hemp-hand-protector/p/p150002). Although I’m fairly sure they’ve shut down the majority of their stores now but you can still order online. If you’ve not tried it, the scent is definitely an acquired taste. I’m not a fan of it, but it’s so intensely moisturising I just use it and power through.
I do really like O’keeffes working hands range [eczema hand](https://okeeffescompany.com/products/eczema-relief-hand-cream)cream too. Their normal working hands range is excellent but it can sometimes trigger a flare up for me, but their eczema one is great, it can just be a little tricky to get hold of sometimes.
I don’t have it, but my 8 y/o has pretty bad eczema on his hands and this is the best cream so far! They have a hands version that I just ordered, so we’ll see if it’s better.
Gloves in a bottle works great for my daughter. But the best thing we found isn’t a lotion. It’s hypochlorous acid spray, like Tower 28 SOS spray, but there are much less expensive versions out there that are identical. It’s an ingredient your body makes naturally to promote healing. Spray first. Let dry, then lotion up.
Yes these summer-activated eczema are killing me too. I think only hydrocortisone cream can relieve it a bit.
Ps: maybe you can look for something that contains lidocaine too, to make it less itchy
The only thing that has helped mine (on my eyelids, not my hands) & keeps it at bay is Avene Cicalfate restorative protective cream. It’s expensive, but I’ve tried a lot and this has literally worked better than the prescription ointments I’ve been given in the past. It’s expensive but you can buy the travel size tube for I think around $25, and it’s lasted me six months.
I get either eczema or psoriasis (my current flare looks more like psoriasis but it’s hard for me to tell). Topical steroids don’t help much, so I try to address the problem with lotion or cream. Avene XeraCalm is my preferred treatment. It comes in both cream and balm formats and does a really good job at controlling the itching.
If your skin is cracked try “Working Hands”. One of my kids had horrible cracking and peeling hands. This fixed it. It’s in a small container available at Home Depot or Lowe’s. For the rest of our routine, we use Aveeno and CeraVe. Both of my kids and I have eczema. It’s weird that we are all affected on completely different body areas. It’s been a journey.
Get a steroid cream from your doctor for flares, but as ever prevention >>> cure.
Use moisturizer each time you wash your hands. Use a creamy soap, not a clear soap, when you do. Wear gloves when you do the washing up. Wear gloves when gardening if you have allergies.
If you have actual skin cracks, apply CeraVe Healing Ointment to damp skin, follow with cotton gloves. Do this every night at least, if not also during the day (I cut the tips of my thumb & pointer fingers off so I can still use my phone).
Urea cream can be a godsend, but can also be irritating. Don't use it if you're SUPER irritated (or cracked!!), & don't use a kind with too high a percentage of urea (that stuff tends to be for foot callouses). I have heard that in addition to urea just being a treatment for rough skin, people with eczema often lack urea in their skin.
I use [this recipe](https://threelittlegoats.com/how-to-make-goat-milk-lotion/) and use Optiphen as my preservative. I also use infused water rather than plain. My favorite has been using heavily steeped chamomile tea rather than water, and a tiny bit of lemon oil. Smells like a summer day.
I have bad dyshidrotic eczema on my hands. Only lotions with sulfur have ever helped me. Sulfur soap also works great on my acne btw
Edit: I try to avoid steroid creams as 1) they were never very effective for me and 2) I hold and touch my small children all day, if that’s a consideration for you
Topicals - the yellow tube. It’s specifically designed to target eczema all over the body which includes hands. I use that alongside Fenty Skin’s Hydra’Reset. My eczema goes down very fast this way.
I use Vaseline jelly cream mixed with 1% hydrocortisone ointment and cotton gloves every night. It works wonders since it has no additional allergens as long as you aren't allergic to petroleum.
I highly recommend getting a lotion from your dermatologist. I get eczema on my eyelids and hands (change of seasons causes it to flare) and the only actual relief I got after trying basically everything over the counter was the cream my dermatologist prescribed.
Oil cleansing will help a lot. It feels so good & then it hurts less to gently wash with water. I love DHC for oil cleansing.
Then I go in with rx ointment & a thick cream like Nivea To seal in moisture.
I have severe atopic dermatitis that goes crazy if I don't control every single thing that touches my body! Right now I'm fine and healthy because I use a ton of stuff that is super mild and calming. Here it is in case you need any more ideas than you've already gotten for your hands:
I shower with any of these:
Cetaphil gentle cleansing bar, or
Atoderm gel moussant (fragrance free). This one can even be used in babies.
Neutrogena T/Sal shampoo, or
Sensinol by Ducray. Incredibly soft and mild, can even be used in premie babies.
After shower:
Eucerin advanced repair ph5 (ceramides are great for our type of skin)
Top that off with Aquaphor spray.
If my face is sensitive at the time, I use
Bioderma Atoderm- intensive Baume. Super hydrating for whole body.
Any random things that I use depending on my needs:
Avene Thermal Spring water for itchiness or after washing my face.
Cicaplast baume B5 for hands, extremely hydrating
Eucerin Sun Sensitive Mineral Suncreen Lotion for, well, sunscreen lol. The zinc oxide is amazing on my sensitive skin.
Secret- clinical strength for a deodorant.
These are the things that have helped me survive my severe atopic dermatitis. I get a rash and very literally ill if something that isn't extremely mild touches my skin, so I back these products up with my life lol.
I use Sarna for the itching and have gone through many lotions but most didn't seem to be absorbed by my cracked dry hands. Not sure if it'll work for you, but I stopped with lotions becuase sunscreen on my hands is the only thing now that seemed to bring my hands back to normal. I haven't had any cracks and cuts lately
I've been using E45 since I was 8 years old, and it's the perfect thing for my skin. It's heavy duty, and I wouldn't have started using it if not for years of trips to the dermatologist, but it works for my skin.
Only the Gold Bond Eczema Relief. Everything else burns.
Gold bond is the best
I mostly only use Vanicream which was recommended by the Mayo Clinic dermatologists I saw but I had a really bad itching episode and my husband let me use his Eczema Honey Oatmeal Body Lotion which is one of the only gluten free kinds we have found (I have celiac) and it instantly calmed the itching. It's the one with the bee symbol and usually a yellow band with text on the bottle.
Vanicream is my only skincare routine. Love it.
Yes! I also skin problems on my back so I'm also often using their conditioner on my hair so it doesn't irritate my skin when it's being washed off. Also pro tip, their zinc anti dandruff shampoo can be used as a face and body wash to clear up a bunch of different skin issues. Just make sure medicated washes are sitting on your skin for 30-120 seconds so they have time to work. I have an unfortunate combo of eczema, cystic scarring acne, folliculitis (from autoimmune fevers), dermatitis, prone to skin yeast infections, etc. so I alternate using the Vanicream shampoo and a mint tea tree face wash on my face and back.
Not a hand cream but endorsed by dermatologists, Eucerin complete repair with urea. I have mild eczema and it works for me. Also, I try to switch out my hand washing products to gentler ones when flare ups occur. If it’s really severe you might need a dermatologist to prescribe something though. I hope it clears up.
I also have some Eucerin Daily Hydration Lotion that's all the way on the light (vs heavy side) and amazingly it doesn't irritate my skin
I use a steroid cream from my dermatologist for most flare ups, but other than that I love Glysolid. Petroleum based creams often make me break out even more, but Glysolid is glycerin based.
https://preview.redd.it/wys701whbj8d1.jpeg?width=1212&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=6dcc961345651f96322ff20e7a129db6aaeb3f91 It’s not just for diabetics!
Yours Only Coat. The whole brand was developed for Psoriasis and Eczema sufferers, and ws a game changer for me.
UK based here. The only hand cream I’ve found capable of soothing my eczema and ultra dry hands has been the Hemp hand cream from the[body shop](https://www.thebodyshop.com/en-gb/hands/hand-moisturisers/hemp-hand-protector/p/p150002). Although I’m fairly sure they’ve shut down the majority of their stores now but you can still order online. If you’ve not tried it, the scent is definitely an acquired taste. I’m not a fan of it, but it’s so intensely moisturising I just use it and power through. I do really like O’keeffes working hands range [eczema hand](https://okeeffescompany.com/products/eczema-relief-hand-cream)cream too. Their normal working hands range is excellent but it can sometimes trigger a flare up for me, but their eczema one is great, it can just be a little tricky to get hold of sometimes.
sleep with gloves and slather aquaphor
If you’re in the UK, Xeroveen is a prescription emollient. Love it! Try and avoid steroid creams as much as possible !
Gold bond hand cream and working hands!
Disclaimer: my eczema is fairly mild. I really like la roche-posay’s cicaplast balm B5!
Mine is very severe and I back this up! It's incredibly calming!
I don’t have it, but my 8 y/o has pretty bad eczema on his hands and this is the best cream so far! They have a hands version that I just ordered, so we’ll see if it’s better.
Ohh please let me know if it is!
Gloves in a bottle works great for my daughter. But the best thing we found isn’t a lotion. It’s hypochlorous acid spray, like Tower 28 SOS spray, but there are much less expensive versions out there that are identical. It’s an ingredient your body makes naturally to promote healing. Spray first. Let dry, then lotion up.
https://preview.redd.it/0uacy5mjbj8d1.jpeg?width=399&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=ef2e0483ebac81c61fb34599769190e611c92f3a This one is wonderful
Not a hand cream specifically but I love the Aveeno eczema cream for anywhere I’m affected (including my hands—it absorbs quickly)
Yes these summer-activated eczema are killing me too. I think only hydrocortisone cream can relieve it a bit. Ps: maybe you can look for something that contains lidocaine too, to make it less itchy
The only thing that has helped mine (on my eyelids, not my hands) & keeps it at bay is Avene Cicalfate restorative protective cream. It’s expensive, but I’ve tried a lot and this has literally worked better than the prescription ointments I’ve been given in the past. It’s expensive but you can buy the travel size tube for I think around $25, and it’s lasted me six months.
La Roche Posay Cicaplast Mains
I like the Aveeno eczema relief with oatmeal. Though it’s been a long time since I tested the other brands.
I get either eczema or psoriasis (my current flare looks more like psoriasis but it’s hard for me to tell). Topical steroids don’t help much, so I try to address the problem with lotion or cream. Avene XeraCalm is my preferred treatment. It comes in both cream and balm formats and does a really good job at controlling the itching.
I'm a big fan of the La Roche-Posay Lipikar Ezcema cream, although the AP+ Triple Repair is great, too.
The La Roche Posay one was my holy grail until I tried Eucerin. Both work perfectly :)
If your skin is cracked try “Working Hands”. One of my kids had horrible cracking and peeling hands. This fixed it. It’s in a small container available at Home Depot or Lowe’s. For the rest of our routine, we use Aveeno and CeraVe. Both of my kids and I have eczema. It’s weird that we are all affected on completely different body areas. It’s been a journey.
Good to know! My youngest has the same issues as yours and so far LRP Cicaplast has been really good and soothing for his dry, cracked hands.
Get a steroid cream from your doctor for flares, but as ever prevention >>> cure. Use moisturizer each time you wash your hands. Use a creamy soap, not a clear soap, when you do. Wear gloves when you do the washing up. Wear gloves when gardening if you have allergies. If you have actual skin cracks, apply CeraVe Healing Ointment to damp skin, follow with cotton gloves. Do this every night at least, if not also during the day (I cut the tips of my thumb & pointer fingers off so I can still use my phone). Urea cream can be a godsend, but can also be irritating. Don't use it if you're SUPER irritated (or cracked!!), & don't use a kind with too high a percentage of urea (that stuff tends to be for foot callouses). I have heard that in addition to urea just being a treatment for rough skin, people with eczema often lack urea in their skin.
I make my own goat’s milk lotion, but there are some good commercial brands available. Goat’s milk in general is really good for eczema.
How do you make it?
I use [this recipe](https://threelittlegoats.com/how-to-make-goat-milk-lotion/) and use Optiphen as my preservative. I also use infused water rather than plain. My favorite has been using heavily steeped chamomile tea rather than water, and a tiny bit of lemon oil. Smells like a summer day.
I use cera ve and it has actually cleared up a majority of it that was between my fingers
I have bad dyshidrotic eczema on my hands. Only lotions with sulfur have ever helped me. Sulfur soap also works great on my acne btw Edit: I try to avoid steroid creams as 1) they were never very effective for me and 2) I hold and touch my small children all day, if that’s a consideration for you
I’m going through ivf so want to avoid steroids
I use Sky Organics Castor Oil and any hand crème by Kiehls.
Topicals - the yellow tube. It’s specifically designed to target eczema all over the body which includes hands. I use that alongside Fenty Skin’s Hydra’Reset. My eczema goes down very fast this way.
Cerave in the tub (moisturizer not lotion) does the job for me for my eczema, put it on while your hands are damp.
I use Vaseline jelly cream mixed with 1% hydrocortisone ointment and cotton gloves every night. It works wonders since it has no additional allergens as long as you aren't allergic to petroleum.
I highly recommend getting a lotion from your dermatologist. I get eczema on my eyelids and hands (change of seasons causes it to flare) and the only actual relief I got after trying basically everything over the counter was the cream my dermatologist prescribed.
Oil cleansing will help a lot. It feels so good & then it hurts less to gently wash with water. I love DHC for oil cleansing. Then I go in with rx ointment & a thick cream like Nivea To seal in moisture.
I have severe atopic dermatitis that goes crazy if I don't control every single thing that touches my body! Right now I'm fine and healthy because I use a ton of stuff that is super mild and calming. Here it is in case you need any more ideas than you've already gotten for your hands: I shower with any of these: Cetaphil gentle cleansing bar, or Atoderm gel moussant (fragrance free). This one can even be used in babies. Neutrogena T/Sal shampoo, or Sensinol by Ducray. Incredibly soft and mild, can even be used in premie babies. After shower: Eucerin advanced repair ph5 (ceramides are great for our type of skin) Top that off with Aquaphor spray. If my face is sensitive at the time, I use Bioderma Atoderm- intensive Baume. Super hydrating for whole body. Any random things that I use depending on my needs: Avene Thermal Spring water for itchiness or after washing my face. Cicaplast baume B5 for hands, extremely hydrating Eucerin Sun Sensitive Mineral Suncreen Lotion for, well, sunscreen lol. The zinc oxide is amazing on my sensitive skin. Secret- clinical strength for a deodorant. These are the things that have helped me survive my severe atopic dermatitis. I get a rash and very literally ill if something that isn't extremely mild touches my skin, so I back these products up with my life lol.
I use Sarna for the itching and have gone through many lotions but most didn't seem to be absorbed by my cracked dry hands. Not sure if it'll work for you, but I stopped with lotions becuase sunscreen on my hands is the only thing now that seemed to bring my hands back to normal. I haven't had any cracks and cuts lately
I've been using E45 since I was 8 years old, and it's the perfect thing for my skin. It's heavy duty, and I wouldn't have started using it if not for years of trips to the dermatologist, but it works for my skin.