The 8 Best Body Washes for Eczema for Clean, Calm Skin

Living with eczema means showering can be a gamble. The wrong body wash can leave you feeling tight, itchy, and red before you even grab a towel. I’ve been there. It feels like you’re just washing away any moisture your skin had left.

But finding the best body wash for eczema isn’t impossible. You just need to know what to look for. The goal is to find something that cleans your skin without stripping away its natural oils. Ingredients like ceramides, oatmeal, and hyaluronic acid are your best friends.

I’ve tried a ton of them over the years. Some were terrible, but some were amazing. These are the ones that actually helped soothe my skin, reduce itchiness, and left me feeling clean and comfortable.

 

 

Our Favorite Eczema Body Washes

CeraVe Soothing Body Wash

This one will set you back about $9.

My dermatologist recommended this one, and I get why. It’s accepted by the National Eczema Association and is packed with good stuff like ceramides and hyaluronic acid. It really helps calm down irritation and redness.

It’s designed to hydrate while it cleans, and it never made my skin feel tight or dry. And even though it’s super moisturizing, I never had issues with it clogging pores or causing body acne.

The Downside: If you love a rich, bubbly lather, this isn’t it. It’s a very low-foam formula, which can take some getting used to.

 

 

Dove Sensitive Skin Body Wash

You can usually find this for around $9.

If you need a solid, affordable option, this is it. Dove’s sensitive skin formula is incredibly creamy and feels great. It uses glycerin to help moisturize, and my skin always feels soft for hours after I use it.

It’s a classic for a reason. It gets you clean without that stripped, squeaky feeling that can trigger a flare-up. For mild eczema, it’s a fantastic daily wash.

The Downside: It contains a “hypoallergenic fragrance.” It’s a very light, clean scent, but if you’re sensitive to any kind of fragrance at all, you might want to patch test first.

 

 

Cetaphil Restoraderm Soothing Wash

This one costs about $18.

When my skin is really stressed out and angry, this is one of my go-tos. It’s soap-free and has shea butter and sunflower seed oil, which feel incredibly nourishing on super dry skin.

Cetaphil claims it provides moisture for a full 24 hours, and I believe it. You can feel how gentle it is, and it never makes irritation worse. It just calms things down.

The Downside: The smell isn’t for everyone. It’s not fragranced, but it has a sort of clinical, medicinal scent that some people don’t like.

 

 

Aveeno Skin Relief Fragrance-Free Body Wash

A bottle of this is about $13.

Aveeno and oatmeal go hand-in-hand, and this body wash is a perfect example of why. The colloidal oatmeal is fantastic for soothing itchy, inflamed skin. It’s my pick for when the itching is driving me crazy.

It cleans really gently and actually lathers up a bit, which I like. My skin always feels soft and calm after using it, not stripped at all.

The Downside: Be careful when you’re buying it. The packaging looks almost identical to the scented versions, so double-check that you’re grabbing the “Fragrance-Free” bottle.

 

 

Eucerin Eczema Relief Body Wash

This body wash costs around $13.

For a bad flare-up, this is serious business. It’s completely free of soap and fragrance and uses colloidal oatmeal to immediately calm down that intense itch.

The texture is really creamy and feels luxurious, which is nice when your skin is feeling raw and uncomfortable. It’s incredibly gentle but still effective at getting you clean.

The Downside: The ingredient list includes some alcohol. I personally haven’t found it to be drying, but it’s something to be aware of if your skin is particularly sensitive to alcohol.

 

 

Eau Thermale Avène XeraCalm A.D Lipid-Replenishing Cleansing Oil

At $34, this is a bit of a splurge.

This is my secret weapon for the dead of winter. It’s a cleansing oil, not a traditional body wash, so it cleanses without stripping a single bit of moisture from your skin. It feels so protective.

It’s designed to help restore your skin’s barrier and has the National Eczema Association seal of approval. A little goes a long way, and it leaves my skin feeling balanced and less prone to flares.

The Downside: My only issue is with the packaging. The pump can feel a little flimsy, and I’ve read reviews where it has broken on people.

 

 

Vanicream Gentle Body Wash

This is usually priced around $12.

If your skin reacts to literally everything, try Vanicream. Their whole brand is built around being free of common irritants like dyes, fragrance, parabens, and sulfates. It’s as gentle as it gets.

Even with its super short ingredient list, it still lathers up pretty well. It’s a great choice for anyone with eczema who also deals with a lot of allergies.

The Downside: It has no added fragrance, but the base ingredients have a smell that some people find unpleasant. I don’t love it, but it doesn’t linger.

 

 

La Roche-Posay Lipikar Wash AP+

Expect to pay about $20 for this wash.

This is another fantastic option for extra dry and flaky skin. It’s pH-balanced and uses shea butter to provide intense moisture. It really helps protect your skin’s barrier.

I love that it foams up into a really nice lather, so it feels like you’re getting a thorough clean. La Roche-Posay also has a whole line of Lipikar lotions and balms you can use with it.

The Downside: Although it says it can be used on the face, I wouldn’t recommend it. I tried it once, and it really stung my eyes.

Choosing the right body wash can honestly make a huge difference in managing your eczema. It sets the foundation for your whole routine. When you start with a gentle, moisturizing base, your lotions and creams can work that much better.

Don’t be afraid to try a few things out. What works for me might not be your perfect match. But starting with a formula made for sensitive, eczema-prone skin is always the right first step.