Finding a moisturizer for contact dermatitis can be very difficult and even if you do find one, it can still cause contact dermatitis.

Contact dermatitis occurs because of an allergic reaction to an ingredient or substance present in products.

So you will need to get a patch test to see what ingredients you’re allergic to before buying skincare products.

When choosing moisturizers, make sure they are dye-free, fragrance-free, lanolin-free, paraben-free, formaldehyde-free, botanical extract-free, gluten-free, and essential oil-free.

Vaseline is the go-to moisturizer for people with contact dermatitis as it not only moisturizes the skin but also contains minimal ingredients.

Pros:

• It has occlusive properties that keep your skin moisturized by creating a protective barrier and locking in moisture.

• It helps to heal minor cuts, wounds, scrapes, burns, and scars including damaged, cracked, and dry skin.

• It is non-irritating, hypoallergenic, non-comedogenic, and fragrance-free making it ideal for sensitive skin.

• It helps soothe baby rashes, soften chapped lips, heal tattoos, bulk up eyebrows, protect chafed skin, and much more.

Cons:

• None.

What ingredients does it contain?

Active ingredients: White Petrolatum Usp (100%).

This is another moisturizer that should be suitable for people with contact dermatitis. It is an ideal moisturizing formula for dry skin associated with eczema, psoriasis, ichthyosis, and winter itch.

Pros:

• It helps restore and maintain a normal moisture level.

• It soothes red, irritated, cracking, or itchy skin.

• It is non-greasy, easy to spread, and quickly absorbed.

• It is dye-free, fragrance-free, lanolin-free, paraben-free, formaldehyde-free, botanical extract-free, gluten-free, essential oil-free, and non-comedogenic.

Cons:

• None.

What ingredients does it contain?

purified water, petrolatum, sorbitol, cetearyl alcohol, propylene glycol, ceteareth-20, simethicone, glyceryl stearate, PEG-30 stearate, sorbic acid, BHT.

Cerave moisturizing cream is another moisturizer we recommend for people with contact dermatitis.

Pros:

• It is suitable for really dry and sensitive skin.

• It helps repair the damaged skin barrier.

• It provides 24-hour hydration.

• It contains 3 essential ceramides and hyaluronic acid.

• It is non-comedogenic and fragrance-free.

Cons:

• None.

What ingredients does it contain?

AQUA / WATER / EAU, GLYCERIN, CETEARYL ALCOHOL, CAPRYLIC/CAPRIC TRIGLYCERIDE, CETYL ALCOHOL, CETEARETH-20, PETROLATUM, POTASSIUM PHOSPHATE, CERAMIDE NP, CERAMIDE AP, CERAMIDE EOP, CARBOMER, DIMETHICONE, BEHENTRIMONIUM METHOSULFATE, SODIUM LAUROYL LACTYLATE, SODIUM HYALURONATE, CHOLESTEROL, PHENOXYETHANOL, DISODIUM EDTA, DIPOTASSIUM PHOSPHATE, TOCOPHEROL, PHYTOSPHINGOSINE, XANTHAN GUM, ETHYLHEXYLGLYCERIN.

La Roche-Posay’s skincare line Toleriane focuses on sensitive and allergy-prone skin. This makes it suitable for people with contact dermatitis.

Pros:

• It provides long-lasting comfort, soothes dry skin, and helps restore the skin’s hydration level.

• It is dermatologist tested and tested on sensitive and allergy-prone skin. 

• It is preservative-free, fragrance-free, paraben-free, alcohol-free, allergy-tested, and non-comedogenic.

• It is recommended for ultra-sensitive, dry, uncomfortable skin.

Cons:

• None.

What ingredients does it contain?

Aqua/Water/Eau. Isocetyl Sterate, Pentylene Glycol, Peg-100 Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate, Squalane, Butyrospermum Park, Butter / Shea Butter, Toluene Sulfonic Acid, Dimethiconol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Citric Acid, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Cetyl Alcohol, Sodium Hydroxide, Acetyl Dipeptide-1, Cetyl Ester.

Avene’s Cicalfate is one of the most popular creams used to treat eczema or dermatitis-related skin conditions and should be suitable for people with contact dermatitis.

Pros:

• It promotes skin restoration while preserving the skin’s natural barrier.

• It maintains proper hydration levels for skin restoration.

• It helps reduce redness.

• It is formulated to minimize the risk of allergic reactions.

• It is non-comedogenic, fragrance-free, paraben-free, and alcohol-free.

Cons:

• None.

What ingredients does it contain?

Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Mineral Oil, Glycerin, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, Zinc Oxide, Propylene Glycol, Polyglyceryl-2-Sesquiisostearate, PEG-22/Dodecyl Glycol Copolymer, Aluminum Stearate, Beeswax, Aquaphilus Dolomiae Ferment Filtrate, Copper Sulfate, Arginine, Magnesium Stearate, Microcrystalline Wax, Tromethamine, Zinc Sulfate.

La Roche-Posay CICAPLAST Baume B5 is a multi-purpose balm that soothes and protects irritated skin. It nourishes, soothes, and protects your dry skin to aid repair barrier function.

Pros:

• It provides optimal skin barrier recovery, helps in soothing dry, irritated areas, and gives skin protection.

• This balm is specifically made for people with dry, sensitive skin.

Cons:

• None.

What ingredients does it contain?

Aqua/​Water, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Dimethicone, Glycerin, ​Shea Butter, Panthenol, Butylene Glycol, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Propanediol, Cetyl PEG/​PPG-10/​1 Dimethicone, Trihydroxystearin, Zinc Gluconate, Madecassoside, Manganese Gluconate, Silica, Magnesium Sulfate, Disodium EDTA, Citric acid, Aluminum Hydroxide, Copper Gluconate, Acetylated Glycol Stearate, Polyglyceryl-4 Isostearate, Ci 77891/​Titanium Dioxide, Tocopherol, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate.

Eucerin Advanced Repair Cream provides 48-hour moisture, for skin that looks and feels healthy.

Pros:

•  Long-lasting relief for very dry skin.

•  Repairs very dry skin.

•  Eucerin Advanced Repair Cream is a breakthrough in repairing very dry skin and provides 48-hour moisture, for skin that looks and feels healthy.

• It is fragrance, dye, and paraben free for sensitive skin.

Cons:

• None.

What ingredients does it contain?

Water, Glycerin, Urea, Cetearyl Alcohol, Hydrogenated Coco-Glycerides, Octyldodecanol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Sodium Lactate, Glyceryl Stearate SE, Ceramide NP, Lactic Acid, Arginine HCL, Glycine, Alanine, Carnitine, Sodium PCA, Carrageenan, Cholesterol, Sunflower Seed Oil, Tapioca Starch, Dimethicone, Pentylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Decylene Glycol, AcrylatesC10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Sodium Cetearyl Sulfate, Sodium Chloride.

Vaseline and Vanicream are some moisturizers we recommend. Cerave is also a good option but a lot of people do get problems from using this.