Top Natural Skincare Products for Eczema
Even with effective TCM herbal medicine treatment, eczema-prone skin requires long-term management. Using the right topicals during active and remissions phase are key to keeping the skin healthy and non-reactive. If eczema is mild, topicals may be enough to settle the inflammation and quell a flare, but internal herbal medicine is often required to really prevent future flares. It is always best to consult a TCM practitioner who specializes in treating skin conditions to get specific recommendations tailored to your skin, but I’ve outlined the products I most commonly recommend to my clients below.
Dermatology-M is the brand I most often recommend to patients dealing with chronic inflammatory skin conditions. They have a wide range of products to benefit many different skin concerns including eczema. Always be sure to check ingredient lists before use if you have any specific allergies. My favorite Dermatology-M products for eczema are:
Zi Cao Shui Gao : A wonderful anti-inflammatory emollient to moisturize the skin, reduce redness and inflammation, and help restore healthy skin function. I often combine this with Shi Zhen Shui Gao or Shi Zhen Gao for added effect.
Shi Zhen Gao : This ointment is best for eczema with a lot of redness and inflammation and some weeping and crusting. It can be used in combination with Zi Cao Shui Gao for added moisturizing.
Shi Zhen Shui Gao : This cream is best for dry, red, itchy, flakey eczema. It can be used in combination with Zi Cao Shui Gao for added moisturizing. It is also great for red, itchy hand eczema and pompholyx.
TSW Lotion : This lotion is specially formulated for steroid-damaged skin. It provides anti-flammatory effects and itch reduction as well as supporting the skin microbiome to help prevent infection.
Hu Zhang Shui : When eczema is widespread and the skin feels hot and irritated by lotions and creams I like to use this gel lotion to help reduce itching and inflammation. It is not very moisturizing as it is an aloe base, but it can be combined with other moisturizers as the skin can tolerate them.
Emily Skin Soothers is a great brand of soaps and ointments that are helpful with mild eczema. I particularly like their soaps which are oil-based and add moisture rather than drying out the skin. The liquid soap is great for babies and kids who are eczema-prone as it contains no fragrances and is very gentle.
Emily Hot Skin Soother: This heavy, thicker ointment is great for red, hot itchy rashes. Safe for use with infants and babies. If there are signs of infection I would be careful about applying too many heavy topicals.
Emily Dry Skin Soother: This thick ointment is great for dry and cracked winter skin. Great for hands and feet, I recommend this one for people who wash their hands a lot at work and get lots of finger tip cracking. For added effect you can apply this ointment to your hands and feet and cover with socks and lightweight cotton gloves to help the ointment absorb into the skin better.
Emily Diaper Skin Soother: While this product was designed as a diaper cream (which it works great as!) it can also be used for red, hot, irritated, skin. It is especially good for use in areas of delicate skin. I often recommend this topical for vulvar eczema or genital lichen sclerosis.
Emily Liquid Soap : I always recommend my eczema patients switch out their regular hand soap and body wash for this liquid soap. Regular soaps and detergents can dry out the skin, but Emily’s Liquid Soap is made of ingredients that won’t strip natural oils from the skin.
Another, all-natural, TCM herbal-based product line we love is CMD Skin Solutions. These products are made of all-natural ingredients, with limited preservatives and no fragrances or essential oils. I recommend these products for patients with allergies to other ingredients as this company uses fewer ingredients and fewer potential allergens in their products. Their products are safe for infants and children and are a great option for the youngest eczema sufferers.
CMD Au Natural Lotion: This is my go-to plain emollient moisturizer. It is fragrance-free, and moisturizes with sunflower seed oil and shea butter. It is lightweight enough for easy application but offers a good amount of moisture for a lotion. This can be layered with other stronger topicals during flares and makes a great gentle moisturizer for long-term use when the skin is more stable.
CMD EC Hot Blood Cream: This cream combines moisturizing with herbal ingredients to reduce itch and inflammation in the skin. It is similar to the Dermatology-M Zi Cao Shui Gao I recommended above but contains fewer ingredients and is sometimes better tolerated with highly reactive skin.
CMD DH Cream: This cream has added medicinals for a stronger anti-itch effect. This is great for pompholyx and hand eczema that can be very itchy and uncomfortable. This can be used when there is mild weeping but should be combined with other appropriate topicals if there is active infection.
When looking for conventional creams and lotions for soothing eczema prone skin you generally should avoid products containing mineral oil, opting instead for sunflower oil, safflower oil, Shea butter, Cocoa butter, and jojoba oils which are better for the skin microbiome long-term. Look for ceramides on the ingredient labels especially ceramide 1, 2, 3, 6, EOS, EOP, NG, NP, and/or NS. Below are a few over the counter options that are easily found in drugstores nationwide.
Mustela Baby Eczema Relief Cream
If you or someone you love is dealing with eczema or atopic dermatitis and need customized support, Dr. Allison is available for in-person and virtual consultations. In you’re interested in more information, contact for details.