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There’s nothing like baby soft skin — especially when it’s the skin of your tiny one! Because you love your baby so much, you may feel sad and a little worried for them when you start to notice that their skin is dry, irritated, and itchy.

You’ll certainly want to let your doctor know about your baby’s skin if things look unusual or you have any reasons for concern. But in the meantime, it may help to switch your baby’s bath soap to one formulated specifically for baby eczema.

Not sure where you should start in picking out the best kind?

Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered with information about what to look for, a list of some of our favorites, and even some tips to help you tackle your baby’s eczema!

When examining eczema washes to determine which one is the best for you and your baby, some things you may want to consider are:

Ingredients

Some ingredients can be dry and irritating, including:

  • alcohol
  • glycol
  • propylene
  • sodium lauryl sulfate
  • parabens

On the other hand, bonus points go to eczema washes with ingredients that are considered hypoallergenic.

Common ingredients included in eczema washes that claim to gently cleanse or hydrate include:

  • oatmeal
  • shea butter
  • chamomile flower
  • organic calendula
  • iris root extracts
  • sunflower oil

Fragrances

While the scent of lavender can be calming and makes bathtime smell fantastic, you may choose to avoid fragrances in your child’s soap because they can irritate skin.

Soap vs. cleanser

Eczema washes come as both bar soap and liquid or foam cleansers, and there are differences between the two. Many parents choose cleansers over soaps.

This is because soaps may be more likely to negatively disturb a skin’s pH and some contain more potentially irritating chemicals to create their soapy lather.

When choosing our favorite eczema washes, we considered the things we know matter to you: effectiveness, ingredients, and price! Since many of the eczema washes on the market are similar, we also took into account the things that set some apart from the others.

Last but not least, we also listened to your fellow parents who use these eczema washes, since we know their real life experiences are often the most valuable.

A note on price:

Depending on the vendor you purchase from and the size of the eczema wash, pricing varies — which makes it difficult to compare prices effectively. For all of the products on this list, prices vary from about $0.40 per fluid ounce to $2.52 per fluid ounce.

Aveeno Baby Soothing Hydration Creamy Wash

The key ingredient in this wash is the natural oat extract, which is paraben-free and possesses anti-inflammatory properties. Aveeno’s wash is unscented, tear-free, and designed to hydrate skin for 24 hours.

Did we mention it gets rave reviews from dermatologists and pediatricians?

California Baby Therapeutic Relief Eczema Shampoo and Body Wash

The ingredient list for this wash is filled with natural and organic ingredients, such as colloidal oatmeal, aloe vera, and calendula flower extract.

The fact that it’s gluten-free is a nice touch for those households that avoid gluten! It’s also fragrance-free and tear-free, and it includes no soy, dairy, or nuts.

One major downside? The price tag. This is the most expensive wash on our list. And, parents also complained that this wash didn’t lather as well and was a little slimy.

Cetaphil Baby Wash & Shampoo with Organic Calendula

The Cetaphil brand is known and trusted by many parents for its gentle cleansers. This product includes calendula extract, which is a natural anti-inflammatory and may be helpful for treating eczema.

Other things to love? The wash is thick and moisturizing, which can help prevent future eczema outbreaks. If that’s not enough, the lower price also makes this wash stand out.

Baby Dove Sensitive Skin Care Hypoallergenic Wash

Tear-free, fragrance-free, and designed to be hypoallergenic, this wash has the approval of pediatricians and dermatologists. Like many Baby Dove products, it’s intended to be gentle enough for newborn skin.

In general, Dove products are known for being more lotion-like, which is often a positive when it comes to healing and preventing eczema. This particular product is designed to be extremely moisturizing.

Plus, the price tag is on the lower end of the spectrum.

CeraVe Baby Wash and Shampoo

Like most of the other options on our list, this product is tear-free and marketed as hypoallergenic. It’s also free of fragrance, parabens, dyes, phthalates, and sulfates.

It has been accepted by the National Eczema Association as suitable for eczema-prone babies’, toddlers’, and children’s skin. As an added bonus, the price isn’t shabby, either!

Mustela Stelatopia Cleansing Oil for Eczema-Prone Skin

Another wash that’s approved by the National Eczema Association, Mustela is made with avocado perseose and sunflower oil. It can be used daily or in response to an eczema flare-up.

This wash is steroid-free and labeled as newborn safe. One con: Some people don’t like the scent this wash leaves behind, even though it’s considered unscented.

The price tag is also slightly higher than some of the other options on our list.

Looking for more ways to soothe your baby’s eczema? Try these tips:

  • Offer them a short warm bath (no more than 5 to 10 minutes) and apply moisturizer immediately after.
  • Consider using an ointment or thick cream instead of a lotion after bathing. Even though these products are typically greasier, they do a great job keeping moisture locked in the skin.
  • Identify triggers! Think about the things in your environment that may be causing your little one’s skin to be irritated. This may include materials touching their skin (clothing, blankets, etc.), dry air, or bodily fluids like saliva and sweat.
  • If the eczema is particularly rough, ask your pediatrician if they think it’s wise to apply a wet dressing.
  • If your baby is having a hard time avoiding scratching, keep the skin covered with loose cotton clothing.

Sadly, there’s no one eczema wash that works perfectly for every child. This often means a little trial and error is necessary to find the best one for your baby.

Hopefully this list will give you a place to start on that journey.