If you are prone to red, scaly, and itchy patches of dry skin on your face, you could have facial eczema or seborrheic dermatitis.
Eczema, once thought to be a specific skin condition, is now used as an over-arching term used to classify any skin abnormality that causes the skin to become rough and itchy.
If this red, scaly skin on the face is scratched too much, it can become thicker, darker, and could become infected.
Eczema and seborrheic dermatitis can affect people at any age and tends to flare up periodically. While the skin conditions themselves currently have no known cure, there are ways to treat eczema on your face at home that only require some trial and error to find out what product works the best for you.
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Causes Of Eczema And Seborrheic Dermatitis
The causes of seborrheic dermatitis and eczema are related to the skin’s ability to adequately protect itself from allergens, bacteria, and irritants. Eczema prevents this protection from taking place and allows irritants from an allergic reaction to food, a contact allergic reaction from a face product, or laundry detergent to infect the skin.
This can cause redness and irritated skin that are typically associated with these skin conditions. Genetics and overly dry skin are also suspected as possible precursors to seborrheic dermatitis and eczema. Intense flare-ups can happen with weather changes, the use of hot water in the shower, and excessive stress.
Treatments For Eczema And Seborrheic Dermatitis
A process of elimination can be done if you think there is a possibility of eczema being caused by an allergy to any new foods or products. This is done by avoiding everything that is suspected of having caused your reaction and monitoring if your skin’s condition changes.
If so, you can then start slowly reintroducing the suspected items back into your regular routine and continue to monitor for any changes.
Alternatively, a dermatology consult can help with this and is recommended if the symptoms are incredibly painful. The consult will be done to rule out any other cause for the discomfort that may go beyond seborrheic dermatitis and eczema.
Most cases of seborrheic dermatitis and eczema, whether they originate from genetics or dry skin, or from an allergy, can be treated at home.
The best way to treat eczema on your face is through the daily use of soothing cleansers and lotions. The products that are available for treating seborrheic dermatitis and eczema are typically more gentle than the traditional products that can be bought down the skincare aisle.
What Is The Best Moisturizer For Seborrheic Dermatitis?
CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser
- This product is non-sealed
- [ GENTLE FACE CLEANSER ] Daily face wash with hyaluronic acid, ceramides, and glycerin to help hydrate skin without stripping moisture. Removes face makeup, dirt, and excess oil, provides 24-hour hydration and leaves a moisturized, non-greasy feel.
- [ NON-FOAMING CLEANSER ] Moisturizing face wash with a lotion-like consistency feels smooth as it cleanses, even on sensitive, dry skin. Fragrance-free, paraben-free, non-comedogenic and non-drying. Certified by the National Eczema Association
- [ MULTI-USE SKIN CARE ] Skin Cleanser for face and/or body and can be used as a hand wash. Suitable for daily cleansing morning (AM) and night (PM) for normal to dry skin.
- [ 3 ESSENTIAL CERAMIDES ] Ceramides are found naturally in the skin and make up 50% of the lipids in the skin barrier. All CeraVe products, formulated with three essential ceramides (1, 3, 6-II)to help maintain the skin’s natural barrier.
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CeraVe products are created specially by dermatologists to provide the best care for the skin, and their hydrating facial cleanser is certified by the National Eczema Association.
There are no fragrances, parabens, or harsh soap in this cleanser, making it perfect for dry, irritated skin. These irritating ingredients can further aggravate the already sensitive skin of the face is included.
The cleanser is non-comedogenic, which indicates it won’t block pores or cause a buildup of oils. It is made to moisturize and rebuild the lipid layer in the skin barrier to protect your skin and permit it time to heal.
De La Cruz 10% Sulfur Ointment Acne Medication
- GOOD BYE BLEMISHES You will notice acne and overall skin improvement within just a few days! This fast action sulfur cream will leave your skin feeling smooth, less oily and blemish free!
- STOP PIMPLES IN THEIR TRACKS Maximum strength cystic acne treatment penetrates the pores eliminating pimples and blackheads. It helps prevent any new pimple and blackhead from forming.
- CLEARS ACNE ON THE SPOT Whether you have hormonal or severe cystic acne, blackheads or even acne scars, DLC's Sulfur Ointment is the best treatment
- 10 MINUTE ACNE TREATMENT Apply a thin layer over your face, back or the affected area, wait 10-20 minutes and wash off with warm water. A consistent daily regimen will ensure the best results.
- NEVER TESTED ON ANIMALS This effective acne ointment has been allergy tested and does not contain fragrance, parabens or artificial colors. It is non-comedogenic (does not clog pores). Made in USA.
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Sulfur has long been used as a treatment for various skin conditions. De La Cruz uses 10% sulfur in this ointment to penetrate down into pores to relieve inflammation, soften the skin thickened by seborrheic dermatitis or eczema, and provide a gentle exfoliation to rid the face of dead skin buildup.
It includes no artificial fragrances, dyes, or preservatives that would otherwise irritate your skin. The ointment is recommended to be used more like a face mask, in that you cover the affected area with it, wait for about ten minutes, and then rinse off the ointment with water.
Cetaphil Restoraderm Pro, Eczema Calming Body Wash
- CETAPHIL RESTORADERM SOOTHING WASH: A creamy cleanser with a blend of 9 moisturizers and vitamin E to providesoothing relief for very dry, sensitive skin
- STRENGTHENS & PROTECTS STRESSED SKIN: Formulated with filaggrin technology to help restore the skin's natural moisture barrier and leave sensitive skin feeling hydrated and healthy
- 24-HOUR HYDRATION: Continues to hydrate skin for a full 24 hours after washing
- DESIGNED FOR SENSITIVE SKIN: Fragrance, paraben and soap free formula is hypoallergenic and clinically proven to be gentle on sensitive, stressed skin
- DERMATOLOGIST RECOMMENDED for Sensitive Skin
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Cetaphil products are developed by teams of doctors and healthcare professionals for the sole purpose of treating a variety of skin conditions, and their calming wash received the seal of acceptance from the National Eczema Association.
This calming body wash uses a blend of ingredients that contain some of the essential compounds that make up your skin’s protective layer. These compounds work to hydrate and restore this protective layer while reducing irritation and itching so that your skin is better able to heal itself.
The wash does not include soap or fragrance that can be harmful to broken skin. It also provides gentle cleansing without stripping the skin of its natural oils and can be used as a standard body and face wash is used.
URIAGE D.S. Regulating Soothing Emulsion
- Uriage DS Regulatoring Soothing Emulsion is a light regulating care that allows to reduce scales, purify and soothe skins subjected to irritations, redness and scales of the whole family.
- Also ideal to take care of the infant's cradle cap, it regulates the proliferation of the cutaneous flora, removes impurities and sanitizes the skin thanks to its sanitizing active ingredient and its anti-irritant patented complex.
- PROPERTIES: Decreases scales and redness, soothes discomfort and tautness. Rich in Uriage Thermal Water, it offers soothing and anti-irritant properties, ensuring the improvement of the skin aspect. Fragrance-free. Hypoallergenic. Non comedogenic. Not greasy.
- With Uriage Thermal Water in the heart of all Uriage formulations, our different products are isotonic, thanks to their high concentration of minerals and trace elements, as well as highly moisturizing, thanks to its composition close to NMF (Natural Moisturizing Factor).
- Contains a high amount of calcium, which provides a soothing effect to the skin, and a combination of Copper & Zinc, which favors the healing of the tissues.Its richness in manganese & magnesium guarantees antioxidant protection and the action of silicon softens and create a permeable film that retains water and maintains the correct hydration of the epidermis.
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Uriage uses thermal waters from the french alps in their products that naturally contain soothing minerals that help enrich the skin and cleanse it of microbes. These microbes, such as yeast, can irritate the skin and cause seborrheic dermatitis and eczema.
The emulsion boasts patented technology that targets the irritation caused by these microbes and is excellent at reducing redness, scarring, and dry skin of the face. It is to be applied once in the morning and once at night for optimum effectiveness, and once applied, it provides a cooling sensation that soothes painful irritation and skin tightness.
Sebclair Dermatola Cream 30ml
- Specifically designed to help manage and relieve the itching, burning, scaling and pain experienced with seborrheic dermatitis (SD)
- Helps to relieve dry, waxy skin
- Non-steroidal cream
- Suitable for use in children
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Sebclair is a non-steroid cream that contains anti-inflammatory and anti-fungal properties. These properties help to restore the skin barrier function by promoting moisture retention. As a non-steroid, this cream eliminates any rebound effects, such as dryness and increased irritation, typically associated with topical steroid creams.
This lotion for seborrheic dermatitis was created to manage the burning, flaking, reddening, and pain in areas afflicted with this skin condition. It can be applied up to three times a day on afflicted areas and should be gently massaged into the skin.
CeraVe Facial Moisturizing Lotion PM
- This product is non-sealed
- [ OIL FREE NIGHT LOTION ] Use Cerave PM facial lotion as the last step in an evening skincare routine. If layering with an eye cream, moisturizer or facial serum, apply the Cerave night lotion after other product applications have been fully absorbed
- [ OVERNIGHT MOISTURIZER ] Cerave’s PM face cream contains niacinamide to help calm the skin and uses MVE Technology to deliver hydration throughout the night. It also contains hyaluronic acid to help retain skin's moisture
- [ GENTLE ON SKIN ] Fragrance free, paraben-free, oil free, non-comedogenic, and allergy-tested
- [ 3 ESSENTIAL CERAMIDES ] Ceramides are found naturally in the skin and make up 50% of the lipids in the skin barrier. All CeraVe products are formulated with three essential ceramides (1, 3, 6-II) to help restore and maintain the skin’s natural barrier
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This facial lotion has an ultra-lightweight and unique formula that is able to moisturize throughout the night and helps restore the barrier protecting your skin.
What’s more, the smooth, rich, yet lightweight texture spreads over the skin, absorbs fast, and doesn’t leave any greasy finish. As with all CeraVe products, even this facial lotion is fragrance-free and doesn’t irritate sensitive skin.
Final Thoughts
Eczema and seborrheic dermatitis are skin disorders that can leave your face feeling dry, uncomfortable, and in more extreme cases, red and painful to the touch.
These conditions can flare up with weather changes and in response to various environmental triggers. Care should be taken with what is applied to the affected area.
Fragrances, harsh soaps, and anti-bacterial soaps can cause further damage to the skin. While doctors still don’t know the core cause of these disorders, at-home treatments of gentle cleansers and lotions can help manage and ease the effects they have on the skin.