Eczema face products - getting confused!

[TurquoiseCat]

Hi all, looking for a bit of advice really.

I've got eczema patches on my face (chin and around nose), and I need a cleanse/tone/moisturise ritual that will (hopefully) clear it up.

As far as I can see, aveena cream is highly recommended across the boards as a moisturiser, so I'll get some of that, but it's the cleanser/toner aspect I'm struggling with.

After trawling the web, I think I'm meant to be looking for sls and paraben free, so what options does that leave me? I'm a bit skint, so nothing too expensive please! (Over £10 for a bottle of anything gives my purse palpitations )

Any advice would be gratefully received as E45 just isn't doing it, and I don't really fancy going to a big boots with a toddler and no real idea of what to look for!

TIA

Do u wear makeup? If not, then just use water to cleanse maybe?

I use alcohol free wipes and then neutropenia extra gentle cream cleanser.

I use water and Spa Find moisturiser. Going to try their cleansing products soon. Beauty therapist recommended them while we were discussing my eczema face.

Aveeno is good, but also look at Eucerin and A Derma. Eucerin especially is excellent. It's the urea, which is both a humectant, and anti microbial thenakedchemist.com/what-is-urea-and-its-benefits-in-skincare/

Cetaphil gentle cleanser might be good, or just using oil (grapeseed, olive, coconut all good) though that seems to suit some skins perfectly and others not so well. Taking oil off with the oil cleansing method is with a hot, slightly abrasive cloth, and that's not a good idea for atopic skin.

Rosewater and glycerin would be a good hydrating / balancing toner, Boots botanics do one.

NB water is itself drying.

You really have to find the one that suits you and your eczema. A-Derma works for me, but Aveeno and Eucerin don't. Oilatum is OK but I can't get it here in France. I use A-Derma for bath, shower, cleansing, heavy moisturiser for day and lighter at night.

Thanks for all the advice - a bit of shopping to do I think!

Superdrug have a couple of great cream cleansers, the vitamin E one and a Radiance one. Both suit my skin which is similar to yours. I also have used Aveeno for years as a moisturiser, A-Derma and Avene are also very good.

I've recently switched to Weleda's Almond Oil cleansing cream (£10 a tube). I wipe it off with slightly damp cotton wool (as another poster said water can dry out skin). Haven't had any flare ups and skin isn't left feeling dry.

It partly depends on how dry and sensitive your skin is generally. If its only patches of dry skin then a heavy duty cleanser might not be right for the rest of your face?

I'd second Eucerin - haven't tried the cleanser yet but the Eucerin Aquafor balm is amazing on very dry skin.

Thanks everyone - I like the sound of the boots toner, balancing would be good.

I'll try aveeno, and if that doesn't work I'll try a-derma. I might try cetaphil as a cleanser first, but I'll have to see what they have in stock in my boots when I can be bothered to actually go out!

You could try something from the Eucerin range that is specially formulated for eczema, or just plain emuslifying ointment from the pharmacy.

Basically, you need to avoid anything with perfume in it. I'd skip toner- you don't need it, just use warm water on cotton wool pads then use a moisturiser afterwards.

The other point is- if it doesn't clear see your GP for some mild steroid creams and if it persists ask for a referral to a dermo because they can prescribe creams and ointments that can only be prescribed by a consultant.

IME creams that are cosmetic creams and cleansers won't clear eczema- they just stop it getting worse if they are gentle products.

Eucerin is good.

I've been an eczema sufferer all my life and I've learned that what works for some doesn't work for others... so you may find it's a bit of trial and error initially. E45 and Oilatum make my skin worse. I've found Eucerin products great. At the moment I use Origins make a difference moisturiser on my face (but it's £££) and I use epaderm cream as a cleanser (on prescription from GP). I live in London and the water here is terrible I think for eczema sufferers. I always notice an improvement when I travel to a non- limescaley area, the dryness is not nearly as bad.

It really is trial and error, for example P45 irritates my skin.

I have found that cleansing with Cetaphil (its not with the usual skin care stuff in boots, so easier to ask for it) and moisturising with Dr Organics Manuka Honey moisturiser (comes in a little glass pot but lasts for ages) works for me.