The Best Natural Eczema Creams
Many eczema journeys start the same way — trying cream after cream, hoping this one will be different. Before you know it, there’s a cupboard full of half-used products — natural eczema creams, topical steroids, antibiotic creams — all with big promises. And for a little while, some even seem to help… until they don’t.
This is often the case for our Positive Association Technique (PAT) clients who struggling with sensitive and reactive skin, and are seeking options for long-term relief.
If you’ve been at this for a while you’ll already know – relief from creams is temporary at best. And if it was just about the right cream, you probably would have found it by now.
Natural eczema creams absolutely have a role – they’re just not the whole picture. Let’s break this down in a way that actually helps you make sense of what to use, what to avoid, and why so many products fall short.
The Role of Natural Eczema Creams
When you’re dealing with eczema, the skin barrier isn’t functioning the way it should.
Think of the skin like a protective wall. In eczema, that wall has tiny gaps in it.
Moisture escapes more easily, and irritants, allergens, and microbes can get in.
This is part of the reason why the skin feels dry, reacts quickly, and flares so easily in response to allergens.
The right natural eczema creams can:
- Help reduce moisture loss
- Protect the skin from external irritants
- Soothe irritation and support healing
- Act as a temporary barrier
- Make the skin more comfortable day-to-day
For many people, using a cream regularly, especially during flares, is non-negotiable.
It’s part of keeping the skin as stable as possible, but it’s rarely ever enough.
Here’s the part that often gets missed…It’s not fixing why the skin is struggling in the
first place.
If you feel like you’re constantly chasing a better cream, this is why. You’re trying to solve an internal issue with an external tool.
Creams still have their place—so here are a few things to think about when choosing
one.
Types of Eczema and Dermatitis
This is something that often gets overlooked, but it matters more than most people realise.
The type of dermatitis you’re dealing with—and where it’s showing up—can help to guide the kind of natural eczema cream you use.
Because in some cases, the wrong product isn’t just unhelpful… it can actually make things worse.
Take seborrhoeic dermatitis, for example. This is commonly found around the hairline, scalp, eyebrows, and sides of the nose.
It’s often linked to an overgrowth of a yeast called Malassezia, which feeds on the natural oils (sebum) on the skin.
So if you’re applying thick, oily creams to these areas, you may actually be feeding the very thing that’s driving the irritation—leading to more redness, flaking, and ongoing symptoms.
Another really important factor is bacterial balance on the skin.
Many people with eczema have higher levels of Staphylococcus aureus on their skin.
This bacteria tends to build up in areas like the creases of the elbows and behind the knees, but it can be present anywhere on the body.
What’s interesting is that these levels can increase before a flare—so it’s not just a result of eczema, but part of what drives it. (1)
One of the key things that influences this is the pH of the skin. (2)
Healthy skin is slightly acidic, and that acidity plays a protective role. It helps keep
harmful microbes like Staph aureus under control.
When the skin becomes more neutral or alkaline, it creates the perfect environment for this bacteria to overgrow—contributing to more inflammation and more frequent flares.
This is where choosing the right cream really matters.
Some moisturisers can shift the skin’s pH in the wrong direction, making things worse rather than better.
We want to support the skin’s natural acidity—ideally using products with a pH below 5.5 to help keep that protective barrier intact.
Something as simple as a diluted vinegar spray can also be incredibly helpful here, and it’s something I often recommend.
These are just a couple of examples, but they highlight an important point:
Not all natural eczema creams are interchangeable.
And sometimes, the reason something isn’t working, isn’t because you haven’t found
the right product yet—it’s because the product you’re using doesn’t match what’s actually happening on the skin.
"Natural" doesn't always mean eczema-friendly
Once people realise conventional over the counter creams and steroids aren’t the full answer, they often swing to the other end of the spectrum and use more natural products.
And while there are some beautiful options out there, this is also where things can get confusing (and sometimes worse).
Because “natural” doesn’t automatically mean it’s good for sensitive, reactive skin.
There are two main things I see causing issues here.
- Ingredients that aren’t actually that natural
Some products are marketed as ‘natural’ but still contain:
- Preservatives that can irritate sensitive skin
- Fragrance compounds (even if labelled vaguely)
- Petroleum-derived ingredients
- Alcohols that can be drying or sensitising
The branding can feel clean and reassuring, but the ingredient list tells a different story.
This is where reading labels becomes really important—not just trusting the front of the packaging.
- Natural ingredients that can trigger flares
This one surprises a lot of people.
Even genuinely natural ingredients can be too much for eczema-prone skin, especially when the skin barrier is already compromised.
Some of the most common triggers I see include:
- Essential oils
- High-terpene plant extracts
- Salicylate-rich botanicals
- Strong herbal infusions
These ingredients aren’t “bad” and they can be beneficial for a lot of people — but eczema sufferers can still be very reactive to some of these natural compounds.
This is why I often recommend starting simple. The more reactive the skin, the more we want to strip things back—not layer more on.
The Best Natural Eczema Creams
Instead of searching for something that promises miracles, it’s more helpful to look for creams that:
- Are fragrance-free (not just “contains natural fragrance”)
- Avoid essential oils and strong plant actives
- Focus on barrier support (think simple, nourishing ingredients)
- Have a short, transparent ingredient list
And the most important point for me after working with so many eczema families – if you’ve found something that doesn’t cause a flare and seems to help soothe the skin and at least reduce dryness – stick with it. It might not be the full answer – but it can help support the skin without adding extra load or triggering further irritation.
From there, we can individualise based on what your skin actually needs.
A Holistic Approach for Eczema
If you’ve tried multiple products and nothing seems to stick, it’s not because you haven’t found the right one yet. Keep searching and it’s likely one of the only things that will change is that you’ll have less money in your pocket.
It’s usually because the skin is responding to more than just what’s being put on it.
Because eczema isn’t just a skin condition—it’s often a reflection of what’s happening internally.
When I work with families, we’re always looking at a few key areas alongside topical support.
- Food sensitivities
- Gut inflammation and microbiome imbalance
- Immune dysregulation
- Ongoing stress
The tricky part is that it’s rarely just one thing. In the meantime, everything can start to feel like a trigger—food, the environment, chemicals, weather, shower water, chlorine… it can feel endless. Trying to eliminate every possible trigger can quickly become overwhelming (and honestly, not very realistic for day-to-day life).
This is where I utilise Positive Association Technique (PAT).
Instead of trying to avoid everything, PAT helps reduce the over-reactivity itself—so the body becomes less sensitive.
We use a technique called muscle testing (or kinesiology) to help pinpoint any reactions to a range food and environmental substances, which may be contributing your symptoms.
Following testing, we will address reactions to food triggers like sugars, using a acupressure based natural allergy treatment called Positive Association Technique (PAT).
Learn more about PAT in our Free PAT Information E-Pack, straight to your inbox.
Clarity and Calmer Skin
This kind of clarity can completely change things for the people I work with.
When you don’t know what’s driving the flares, everything starts to feel like a potential problem. Food becomes stressful. Everyday environments feel unpredictable. You second-guess everything—what you’re eating, touching, wearing, even where you go.
And over time, it’s not just the eczema that’s hard—it’s the constant mental load.
Avoiding more and more things. Trying to control every variable. Feeling like you can’t just live normally without risking another flare.
When we start to untangle what’s actually going on, that pressure lifts, and that reduced stress can have a major impact on symptoms as well.
We can still work more deeply on other areas as needed, but it helps create some breathing room. Some space to get relief from symptoms, because it can also take time to address deeper issues like nutrient deficiencies, digestive issues, and regular sickness that can lead to more flares.
So where does this leave creams?
They’re still part of the plan.
But instead of being the focus, they become one piece of a much bigger, more effective approach.
Used properly, a good cream:
- Keeps the skin comfortable
- Reduces day-to-day irritation
- Supports healing while deeper work is happening
- Helps control bacterial overgrowth
But it’s no longer something you’re relying on to “fix everything”.
If you’re feeling stuck in the cycle of trying product after product, it might be time to step back and look at the bigger picture.
Because lasting improvement rarely comes from finding a ‘miracle’ cream.
Written by 'The Eczema Naturopath' and Brisbane PAT Practitioner - Belinda Byrnes
https://www.theeczemanaturopath.com.au/If you’re looking for a Naturopathic approach to supporting you or your child’s skin, visit Belinda’s website – https://www.theeczemanaturopath.com.au/
Please note that this blog contains general information only. Always consult your health care professional before making any changes to your diet or lifestyle.
