Best Body Wash for Eczema and Dry Skin: What to Look For

If you have eczema or chronically dry skin, finding a body wash that doesn't make things worse can feel like a full-time job. Most mainstream body washes — even the ones labelled "sensitive" or "gentle" — contain ingredients that strip the skin's natural oils, disrupt the moisture barrier and leave you feeling tighter and drier than before you stepped into the shower. A good body wash for eczema should clean your skin without punishing it. Here's what to look for, what to avoid, and how to build a routine that actually calms and heals.

Why most body washes make eczema and dry skin worse

Eczema (atopic dermatitis) is a condition where the skin's moisture barrier is compromised. The protective lipid layer that keeps moisture in and irritants out is weakened, which means the skin loses water faster, becomes dry and inflamed, and is more vulnerable to allergens, bacteria and environmental triggers.

Most conventional body washes contain surfactants — the foaming agents that create lather. The most common surfactant is sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS), and it's incredibly harsh. SLS strips the skin's natural oils along with dirt, damaging the already fragile moisture barrier that eczema-prone skin desperately needs intact.

On top of that, many body washes contain synthetic fragrances, preservatives and dyes — all of which can trigger flare-ups in sensitive and eczema-prone skin. The irony is that the products marketed as "moisturising body wash" often contain the very ingredients that cause dryness and irritation.

If you've ever stepped out of the shower feeling like your skin is burning, itching or pulling — your body wash is almost certainly making your eczema worse.

What to look for in a body wash for eczema

The best body wash for eczema has three qualities: it cleans effectively, it doesn't strip the moisture barrier, and it contains ingredients that actively calm and repair the skin.

Gentle, sulphate-free surfactants. Look for cleansing agents like decyl glucoside or coco glucoside — plant-derived surfactants that clean without stripping. These create a light lather without the harshness of SLS or SLES.

Anti-inflammatory ingredients. Your body wash should calm the skin, not just clean it. Ingredients like turmeric (containing curcumin) reduce redness, ease inflammation and help break the itch-scratch-flare cycle that eczema sufferers know all too well.

Natural, nourishing oils. The best body wash for dry skin contains plant-based oils that replenish the lipid barrier as you wash. Avocado oil, olive oil and sweet almond oil are all deeply nourishing and help prevent the post-shower tightness that makes eczema uncomfortable.

Minimal, natural fragrance. If there's any fragrance at all, it should come from essential oils — not synthetic perfumes. Lemongrass essential oil, for example, is naturally antibacterial and has a clean, fresh scent without the irritation that synthetic fragrances cause.

No unnecessary additives. The shorter and more recognisable the ingredients list, the better. If you can't pronounce half the ingredients, your eczema-prone skin probably won't tolerate them.

Key ingredients that soothe eczema and dry skin

When choosing a body wash for eczema or dry skin, these are the ingredients that genuinely help:

• Turmeric (curcumin) — one of the most powerful natural anti-inflammatories available. Studies have shown curcumin can reduce the inflammatory markers associated with eczema flare-ups. It calms redness, reduces itching and supports the skin's healing process.
• Aloe vera — intensely hydrating and soothing. Aloe vera creates a protective layer on the skin that locks in moisture and calms irritation without clogging pores.
• Avocado oil — rich in vitamins A, D and E, and deeply penetrating. Avocado oil nourishes and repairs the moisture barrier, making it ideal for very dry, cracked or inflamed skin.
• Olive oil — contains squalene and oleic acid, which soften and protect the skin. It's been used for centuries to treat dry, irritated skin conditions.
• Glycerin — a humectant that draws moisture from the air into the skin. Glycerin helps the skin hold onto water, reducing dryness and flaking.
• Vitamin E — an antioxidant that supports skin repair and protects against environmental damage. It also helps strengthen the moisture barrier over time.

As one of our customers shared: "Great for eczema. Leaves skin feeling clean without drying it. Calming on the skin."

And Yvette, a long-term customer, added: "I have been using this product on my sensitive face and neck (primarily due to eczema) for the past few years and I have never looked back."

What to avoid

If you have eczema or dry skin, these ingredients should be on your "never" list:

• Sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS) and sodium laureth sulphate (SLES) — the most common and most damaging surfactants. They strip the moisture barrier and are a known trigger for eczema flare-ups.
• Parabens (methylparaben, propylparaben) — synthetic preservatives that can cause contact dermatitis and irritation in sensitive skin.
• Synthetic fragrance — "fragrance" or "parfum" on a label can contain dozens of undisclosed chemicals, many of which are known skin irritants. This is one of the most common eczema triggers.
• Alcohol (denatured alcohol, SD alcohol) — strips moisture from the skin and exacerbates dryness and cracking.
• Methylisothiazolinone (MI) — a preservative that has been identified as one of the leading causes of contact allergies in Europe. Still widely used in body washes and shampoos.
• Artificial dyes and colourants — serve no benefit to the skin and can trigger reactions in sensitive individuals.

Building a full body care routine for eczema-prone skin

A good body wash is the foundation, but eczema-prone skin benefits from a complete routine:

Step 1: Wash with a gentle, sulphate-free body wash. Use lukewarm water — never hot. Hot water strips the moisture barrier and triggers flare-ups. Apply your body wash gently with your hands rather than a rough loofah or washcloth.

Step 2: Exfoliate gently once or twice a week. If your skin tolerates it, a gentle sugar-based scrub can help remove the build-up of dry, flaky skin that eczema produces. But be careful — only exfoliate when your skin is calm, never during an active flare-up.

Step 3: Pat dry, don't rub. Rubbing with a towel creates friction that irritates eczema-prone skin. Pat your skin gently until it's slightly damp.

Step 4: Moisturise immediately. Apply a rich, natural body butter or oil while your skin is still slightly damp — this locks in moisture. Look for products with shea butter, avocado oil or jojoba oil.

Step 5: Wash clothing in gentle detergent. Eczema-prone skin can react to laundry detergent residue in clothing. Switch to a fragrance-free, hypoallergenic detergent and skip the fabric softener.

Psoriasis vs eczema — different conditions, similar skincare needs

Psoriasis and eczema are different conditions — psoriasis is an autoimmune condition that causes the skin to produce cells too quickly, leading to thick, scaly patches, while eczema is primarily a barrier dysfunction that causes dry, inflamed, itchy skin. But when it comes to choosing a best body wash for psoriasis or eczema, the principles are the same: avoid harsh surfactants, avoid synthetic fragrance, and choose products with anti-inflammatory, nourishing ingredients.

Both conditions are worsened by the same triggers — stress, harsh products, hot water, synthetic chemicals — and both benefit from the same approach: gentle cleansing, consistent moisturising and natural, anti-inflammatory ingredients.

Soothe your skin naturally

If you're looking for a body wash for eczema that actually calms and nourishes rather than strips and irritates, try Penetrate (turmeric body wash protection) from Like It On Top. Formulated with turmeric and gentle, natural ingredients, it cleanses without stripping, soothes inflammation and leaves skin feeling clean and comfortable — not tight. Browse the full Eczema / Psoriasis (Body) collection for a complete routine built for sensitive, eczema-prone skin. All products are handmade, natural and vegan.