Reviewed by our founder, Samantha Ellis, MD, FAAD – board-certified medical and cosmetic dermatologist.

Eczema-prone skin often presents as dryness, itchiness, sensitivity, rough texture, and a compromised skin barrier. Skin may feel tight, flaky, or reactive, especially during periods of dryness or irritation.

A consistent routine focused on gentle cleansing, hydration, barrier support, and skin protection can help improve overall skin comfort.

As always, consult with your physician or dermatologist for any additional information for your particular skin type and needs.

What Is Eczema?

Eczema is a chronic condition that causes dryness, itchiness, irritation, and increased sensitivity on patches of skin.

When the skin barrier is disrupted, it becomes less effective at retaining moisture and more susceptible to external irritants. This disruption can lead to increased transepidermal water loss, allowing moisture to escape while making skin more vulnerable to environmental triggers.

Because eczema-prone skin can feel dry or reactive, the goal of a daily routine is to support the skin barrier, maintain hydration, and protect areas that need additional comfort.

What Helps Support Eczema-Prone Skin?

Eczema-prone skin benefits from a routine built around hydration, barrier support, and protection. Gentle cleansing, hydrating serums, moisturizers, and skin protectants can help reduce dryness and support overall comfort.

Skin protectants are especially important for eczema-prone skin, as they help protect dry, chapped, cracked, and irritated skin while reducing moisture loss.

What Ingredients Are Best for Eczema-Prone Skin?

Ingredients that support hydration and barrier function are best suited for eczema-prone skin:

Hydrating Ingredients:

• Glycerin helps attract and retain moisture
• Urea helps improve hydration while softening rough, flaky skin

Barrier-Supporting Ingredients:

• Ceramides help support the skin barrier and reduce moisture loss
• Ectoin helps protect against dehydration and support compromised skin

Skin-Protecting Ingredients:

• Colloidal oatmeal helps soothe and moisturize dry, itchy, sensitized skin
• Petrolatum and dimethicone help protect compromised skin and reduce moisture loss

What Ingredients Should You Avoid for Eczema-Prone Skin?

Certain ingredients and product types can increase irritation in eczema-prone skin. Harsh exfoliants, fragranced formulas, and overly aggressive active ingredients may disrupt the skin barrier and increase sensitivity. Keeping your routine simple and focused on hydration and barrier support is often best.

Step-by-Step Skincare Routine for Eczema-Prone Skin

A skincare routine for eczema-prone skin should focus on gentle cleansing, hydration, moisturizing consistently, and protecting areas that feel dry or irritated.

Step 1: First Cleanse for Eczema-Prone Skin

If you wear sunscreen or makeup, the initial cleanse can help remove buildup without harsh cleansing agents.

Pre-Gleanse Cleansing Oil is an oil-based cleanser designed to dissolve sunscreen, makeup, and excess sebum without stripping the skin. Apply to dry hands and massage onto dry skin, then add water to emulsify and rinse thoroughly. Follow with a second cleanse.

Step 2: Gentle Cleanser for Eczema-Prone Skin

Cleansers for eczema-prone skin should leave skin feeling comfortable and hydrated after rinsing, without stripping the skin.

Gleanser Non-Drying Glycerin Cleanser is a gentle cleanser formulated with 50% glycerin to help maintain hydration during cleansing. It removes impurities while supporting the skin barrier and can be used on the face and body.

Step 3: Calming Spray for Eczema-Prone Skin

A calming spray can help support skin comfort after cleansing.

Universal Skin Solution is a hypochlorous acid spray that helps calm and soothe reactive, sensitized, or compromised skin. Spray directly onto dry, cleansed skin as needed and allow it to dry before applying the next step.

Step 4: Serums for Eczema-Prone Skin

Hydrating serums support water content in the skin before moisturizer is applied.

Multi-Quench Plumping Hydration Serum is formulated with polyglutamic acid, glycerin, and osmolytes to help improve hydration and support the skin barrier. Apply evenly to dry, cleansed skin and follow with moisturizer and sun protection.

Redness Reform Soothing Serum can also be used as an alternative option to help calm and comfort the skin. Apply to clean, dry skin and follow with moisturizer.

Step 5: Moisturizers for Eczema-Prone Skin

Moisturizers help maintain hydration and support the skin barrier.

Half & Half Fluid Moisturizer is a lightweight emulsion for face and body that can be used alone or layered under a richer moisturizer, depending on how much moisture your skin needs. Shake well, dispense into hands, and press into skin.

AM/PM Modern Moisturizer is a mid-weight moisturizer designed for daily use. It helps support the skin barrier and maintain hydration. Apply a generous amount to the face, neck, and chest morning and night.

AND/OR

Skin protectants are over-the-counter moisturizers formulated with FDA-recognized active ingredients that temporarily protect compromised skin and reduce moisture loss.

They are especially useful when skin feels dry, irritated, cracked or reactive. Different formats provide different levels of protection, from lightweight hydration to higher occlusion depending on skin needs.

Skin protectants are typically used as the final step in a routine and can be applied across the skin or targeted to specific areas that feel dry or irritated. They can be used as a stand-alone moisturizer or as needed when skin feels dry, irritated or compromised.

Barrier Therapy Skin Protectant Cream helps alleviate minor irritation and itchiness due to dryness and eczema. It contains 1% colloidal oatmeal, a recognized skin protectant active that helps temporarily relieve irritation while moisturizing and supporting the skin barrier. Apply as needed from head to toe.

Barrier Therapy Rich Skin Protectant Cream provides the same benefits in a richer, more balm-like texture for dry-to-very-dry skin. Apply as needed from head to toe.

Skin Utility Gel is a lightweight skin protectant that hydrates and supports the skin barrier without a heavy feel. Apply as needed.

Skin Utility Balm is an occlusive balm that helps lock in moisture while supporting the skin barrier. Apply as needed.

Skin Utility Ointment is a multi-purpose ointment formulated with petrolatum that creates a protective barrier to help prevent moisture loss and protect compromised skin. Apply as needed.

Step 6: Targeted Support for Reactive or Compromised Skin

During periods of increased sensitivity, some areas may need targeted support.

Reactive Skin Solutions 5% Ectoin Cream is a steroid-free cream formulated with ectoin, urea, hydroxyethyl urea, and allantoin to help alleviate sensitivity, scaling, roughness, redness, and irritation while moisturizing compromised skin.

Gently massage onto targeted areas of the face or body daily or as needed. This is a targeted step for symptomatic or reactive skin and is typically applied as the last step in your routine before sunscreen.

Step 7: Sunscreen for Eczema-Prone Skin

Daily sunscreen helps protect the skin from environmental stressors.

Sun Barrier SPF 50 is a mineral-based sunscreen that provides broad spectrum protection while supporting the skin barrier. Apply as the last step in your morning routine.

Prequel Products Recognized by the National Eczema Association

Select Prequel formulas have been awarded the National Eczema Association Seal of Acceptance. These products are evaluated for sensitive-skin suitability and low irritancy potential based on ingredient composition and safety testing.

Products with this designation include:

• Pre-Gleanse Cleansing Oil
• Gleanser Non-Drying Glycerin Cleanser
• Universal Skin Solution Dermal Spray
• Multi-Quench Plumping Hydration Serum
• Reactive Skin Solutions 5% Ectoin Cream
• Barrier Therapy Skin Protectant Cream
• Barrier Therapy Rich Skin Protectant Cream
• Skin Utility Ointment Multi-Purpose Skin Protectant

Incorporating products with this designation can help guide routine building for those looking for well-tolerated options for eczema-prone or sensitive skin.

Building a Consistent Routine for Eczema-Prone Skin

A consistent routine focused on hydration, barrier support, and protection helps maintain skin comfort over time. Gentle cleansing, replenishing moisture, and using skin protectants when dryness or irritation increases can help support a more stable skin barrier.

Introduce new products gradually and adjust based on how skin responds. With continued use of gentle, well-formulated products, eczema-prone skin can feel more comfortable and supported.

All skin care articles are intended to help educate on specific ingredients and skin care topics. Our articles are written to be informative and informational. Any reference to a specific patient experience is not a medical suggestion for treatment. Please note that any Prequel products with referenced ingredients are formulated for Cosmetic Use Only and NOT intended as replacements for physician advice and/or pharmaceutical product recommendations.