The Best Ingredients for Eczema

THE GIST:

A brief discussion about the best product ingredients for eczema plagued skin.

LET’S DISCUSS…

Eczema is an inflammatory autoimmune disease that causes dry, scaly and itchy patches on the face and body. For us, black and brown folk these patches are dark purplish-blue and gray and which can cause hyperpigmentation long after a flare up.

READ: What is Eczema?

If you are an eczema sufferer, I am sure you know there are some ingredients you can’t use and while that list is a long one, I’ve put one together of all the good ingredients you should be looking for in your skincare products if you’ve got this itchy condition. You’re welcome fam’!

Photo Credit: Taisiia Stupak

Cleansers:

This is where eczema sufferers should place their foremost product ingredient focus. Some cleansers contain ingredients that can be all too irritating to eczema flareups and can strip the skin of its natural moisture and oils, causing it to feel tight and itchy making the flareup worse. Since cleansing is the first step of any skincare routine, you’ll want to make sure the ingredients used don’t wreak havoc and discontent for the rest of the regimen. Here you want to focus on nourishing ingredients that gently cleanse yet hydrate the skin.

WARNING: Shameless brand promotion here, if you haven’t tried real African Black Soap, then you are missing out on supreme eczema relief! You should try the NWÄR Skin, Inc. African Black Soap which is available for purchase.

READ: NWÄR Skin African Black Soap: What’s the scoop?

Toners:

Many toners on the market can be extremely drying to eczema so be sure your toner is a hydrating one. Water-based toners can do wonders at keeping the skin nourished and properly prepped to be receptive to healthy ingredients to follow.

Exfoliants

Generally, exfoliants aren’t friendly to eczema skin and can further agitate symptoms, especially if applied during an active flare up. Physical exfoliants such as facial scrubs may be too harsh on the skin and cause fine fissures and tears in the skin that can later become open wounds when left dry and untreated. Chemical exfoliants, on the other hand, can aggravate your flareup and cause a more severe outbreak, since the varying ingredients used can do more harm than good. It’s quite tricky exfoliating with eczema but it can be done. Your best bet is gentle physical and plant-based exfoliants. Be sure you don’t scratch or scrub but ever-so-gently smooth the product onto your skin as not irritate the area.

Tip: It is best to avoid using any exfoliating products during an active eczema flareup, no matter how good the product claims to be at offering relief. That goes for electric cleansing brushes, sponges, pads and body scrubs.

Serums

When using the right serums, they can help intensify and maximize the hydrating properties of moisturizers and toners for eczema plagued skin. Think hydration here as well, you’ll want something that can increase your skin’s chances at retaining moisture and balanced water levels.

Moisturizers

This step of the routine is where you’ll get most of your benefits and if quenched properly you’ll get an all-day relief you can brag about. Moisturizing is the second to the last step of most skincare routines so you’ll want the ingredients here to count. Look for thick, heavy moisturizers, and the thicker the better. 

Types of Moisturizers

Cream or Oil-Based Moisturizers

Sun Protection

Don’t skip this last step! It can be all to easy to follow that dangerous myth that melanin skin doesn’t need sun protection but it most certainly does and always will. Keep your melanin protected with the following:

Instant Relief

You need immediate relief and you needed it yesterday. Yes, friend I understand. Here are a few ingredients that are sure to grant you that instant relief you so desperately need.

Extras

Here are a few more ingredients that are friendly to eczema and sensitive skin types. Using these will also help to manage flare ups and keep them at bay.

READ: Chronic Flare Ups and Break Outs? Psychodermatology Can Help!

What to Avoid:

Some ingredients can trigger an eczema flareup so it’s best to avoid these altogether:

Treating Hyperpigmentation and Discoloration After a Flare up:

After an eczema flare up and depending on how you treated your skin during that time, it can oftentimes cause hyperpigmentation and discoloration at the site of the irritation. In keeping with my pledge to not use skin bleaching or whitening agents in my brand or to promote them on the blog, here’s a list of safe ingredients that effectively treat hyperpigmentation:

Gluconolactone

Morus Alba (Mulberry) Root Extract

Pisum Sativum (Pea) Extract

Shea Butter

Vitamin C and E

READ: The Causes of Hyperpigmentation and Discoloration and its Effects on Melanin-Rich Skin

If your over the counter topical creams and products are no longer working, it may be time to see the medical professionals. You‘ll need to keep up to date with the frequency of your flareups and how often those take place. Also, keep in mind what may be the cause of those triggers and what you’ve used in the past to treat them. Your doctor will most likely prescribe a topical steroid cream to keep your flareups at bay, but get the clinical data of using those prescribed creams over a long period of time. You don’t want to create an immunity to the drugs, rendering your condition tougher to treat.

READ: ASK THE SKINTICIAN, LLC. Disclaimer

Have you had a recent eczema flareup and found a certain product or ingredient that worked for you? Don’t keep your success secret, share it in the comments section below!