Choosing the Best Steroid Free Eczema Cream for You

September 10, 2024

According to the British Journal of Dermatology, roughly 204 million people worldwide, including adults and children, are affected by eczema. This high prevalence leads to numerous treatments, mainly involving steroid-based products. But these options might cause long-lasting damage to your skin. It’s time to find the best steroid free eczema cream as a profound alternative. Let’s explore our blog to learn more!

What is Eczema?

Eczema (Atopic Dermatitis - AD) is a chronic skin condition that causes irritation and inflammation. It is considered a type of minor skin disorder and is not contagious. However, once eczema becomes infected, it might vary in severity.

Topically, eczema comes with several common symptoms, such as dryness, swelling, blistering, oozing, flaking, and redness. They can appear on your elbows, face, knees, and many other areas of your body. Besides that, many individuals with eczema have special allergies such as food allergies, allergic asthma, and hay fever.

Eczema Causes and Triggers

To control eczema effectively, don’t start with the best steroid free eczema cream immediately. Instead, you should first identify the underlying causes to find an appropriate solution. While the exact cause of eczema is not fully known, several key causes and triggers contribute to eczema flare-ups and development.

Causes

Overactive Immune Response: Whenever your body excessively reacts to triggers, your skin barrier might become drier and itchier. This leads to more serious symptoms like inflammation and irritation.
Genes: In genes, there is always a protein called “filaggrin” to balance moisture in your skin. There is a very important protein in your outermost skin layer called the epidermis. Filaggrin is essential for the production of Natural Moisturizing Factors (NMF), which are substances that maintain skin hydration and skin barrier. Once there is a filaggrin deficiency, you might be at an increased risk of atopic dermatitis.
Environment: Both hereditary predisposition and the environment of a person shape their health. Some disease patterns are exclusively caused by environmental factors. Others, such as atopic eczema, are at least favored, triggered, or maintained by environmental factors. Depending on each person's well-being, the level of severity and reaction will vary.
Emotional triggers: Some individuals consider that their eczema symptoms get worse when they are stressed. Also, emotional stress can aggravate rosacea and psoriasis.

Common Triggers Causing Eczema to Flare Up

Dry Skin: This is prone to cause itchiness and irritation or even eczema.
Irritants and Allergens: Two of the most important exogenous factors for atopic eczema are allergic and irritant substances. They might irritate your skin and provoke eczema in certain products that contain fabrics or chemicals. Allergens can cause red patches on your skin and trigger eczema flare-ups. (eg. pet dander, dust mites, and pollen).
Stress: It is important to recognize the reciprocal relationship between eczema and psychosocial distress. Alternative treatment options to address psychological factors associated with eczema can improve disease trajectory and quality of life.
Weather Changes Previous studies have found that cold seasons, changeable weather, a sudden fall in temperature, and geographical regions lacking sun are factors detrimental to the condition (atopic dermatitis). It often makes your skin more sensitive, resulting in symptoms like flaky, red, and leathery patches of skin.
Foods: Despite years of debate and some persistent dissenting voices, it is now apparent that food hypersensitivity plays a significant pathogenic role in up to 40% of children with moderate to severe AD. The significance of food allergy in adults with AD remains to be established. In a study, Milk-allergic patients with AD have significantly increased immune cells that help control immune responses in the body.

To control your eczema’s symptoms effectively, you need to restrict the impacts of triggers and keep your skin hydrated every day. With adequately moisturized skin, you can easily restore your skin's natural barrier.

Why Choose Steroid Free Eczema Creams?

Although corticosteroids, or steroids, are commonly used to treat eczema, they have potential side effects. Some health problems you should consider when keeping prolonged use of steroid-based products, such as:

Skin Thinning: When you use steroids over time, your skin’s natural barrier might be weaker, making your skin more susceptible to damage and infection.
Burning or Stinging: Steroid creams can cause a burning or stinging sensation on users’ skin. If you don’t have timely medications, your skin will be seriously damaged.
Stretch Marks: While stretch marks are harmless and permanent, they still leave unexpected signs on your skin. But they likely get less visible over time.
Allergic Contact Dermatitis: Some individuals are prone to be allergic to steroids, causing unexpected reactions on their skin.
Tachyphylaxis: It is known as the fact that your skin becomes less responsive to the steroids and requires higher doses for improvements.
Rosacea: If you maintain the long-term use of steroids, redness, and visible blood vessels can appear on your skin, called rosacea. It typically comes and goes, depending on your lifestyle and overall health.
Topical Steroid Withdrawal (TSW): When you stop prolonged use of topical steroids, you can confront worse symptoms than your original conditions. This phenomenon, known as TSW, continues for months or years. Understand that Phoilex offers non-steroid products designed to help TSW sufferers effectively.

Ideally, if you select an appropriate eczema steroid-free cream for your skin, you can reduce steroids’ side effects, aiming for long-term treatment. These products focus on herbal ingredients to soothe and protect your skin cells gently.

If you prefer a holistic approach to your eczema, let’s start with steroid-free creams.

How to Choose the Best Steroid Free Eczema Cream?

To find the best steroid-free eczema cream, it’s necessary to consider its ingredients and learn about potential irritants. Here is our guide to help you make the right choice for skin health.

Key Ingredients to Look For

Medium Chain Triglyceride (MCT) Oil: Emollients such as MCT oil caprylic/capric acid, which easily penetrate into your skin to reduce moisture loss effectively. MCT shows protective effects on the gut and has a potent anti-inflammatory effect on the liver.
Tocopherol (Vitamin E): It is a naturally occurring antioxidant that can benefit your heart health, immune system, and liver health. Additionally, its anti-inflammatory properties are useful in treating skin concerns like psoriasis, eczema, and acne.
Ceramides: To maintain your skin’s barrier, you don’t miss ceramides. They are essential lipids that are effective in protecting your skin from irritants.
Colloidal Oatmeal: exhibits direct antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities, which may provide the mechanisms for observed dermatological benefits

Understanding the 4 key ingredients’ role above, Phoilex has developed an ideal product, called Active Releaf Spot Gel. This gel includes hydrating, anti-inflammatory, and soothing properties, which are necessary for relieving eczema symptoms.

Avoiding Potential Irritants

Fragrances: Avoid using fragrances on eczema, which can cause serious allergic reactions. Some fragrances, including floral-based compounds like calendula, feverfew, or lavender, might lead to serious allergic reactions.
Dyes: Artificial dyes are not good for eczema treatments. In fact, its characteristic involves color change, leading to the standard of beauty. This is also a main cause of irritation on your skin.
Certain Preservatives: Some preservatives (e.g. methylparaben and butylparaben) are often used to extend the longevity of skincare products. However, they can damage your skin and irritate eczema-prone skin.

Tips for Testing and Application

Patch Test: Before applying any new product, it’s important to perform a patch test to prevent unexpected problems. Your skin might become allergic to its ingredients, causing adverse health consequences.
Consistency: Instead of permanent methods, you should focus on managing eczema comprehensively. You can use herbal-origin medications, follow a healthy skincare routine, and modify your lifestyle to attain that.

Note: It is best to consult a medical professional if you have any problems or questions.

Currently, Phoilex’s Dynamic Releaf Duo is a perfect combination of all the beneficial ingredients and is free from common irritants. This product can work effectively to alleviate eczema symptoms and improve your overall skin health.

Say Goodbye to Steroids, Hello to Phoilex

Honestly, controlling eczema’s symptoms doesn’t have to involve steroids. Once you find the best steroid free eczema cream for your skin condition, you can achieve ReLeaf without side effects. To bring worthwhile products against eczema, Phoilex focuses on using natural botanicals paired with science backed ingredients to repair your skin without allergic expressions.

Explore our site for more ways to support your eczema-prone skin and start your journey to healthier skin today!

References:

Boonchai, W., Wisuttida, W., Kasemsarn, P., & Puangpet, P. (2024). Prolonged patch testing time increases positive reactions to nickel. The British Journal of Dermatology, 190(1), e6-e7. https://academic.oup.com/bjd/article/190/1/e6/7485639
National Eczema Society. (n.d.). Topical corticosteroids. https://eczema.org/information-and-advice/treatments-for-eczema/topical-corticosteroids/
National Eczema Society. (n.d.). Topical steroid withdrawal (TSW). https://eczema.org/information-and-advice/topical-steroid-withdrawal-tsw/
NHS. (2023). Topical steroids. National Health Service. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/topical-steroids/
Cleveland Clinic. (2022, August 15). Best eczema creams: What to look for and what to avoid. Health Essentials. https://health.clevelandclinic.org/eczema-cream
Luschkova D, Zeiser K, Ludwig A, Traidl-Hoffmann C. Atopic eczema is an environmental disease. Allergol Select. 2021 Aug 23;5:244-250. doi: 10.5414/ALX02258E. PMID: 34476334; PMCID: PMC8383845.
Oska, C., & Nakamura, M. (2022). Alternative psychotherapeutic approaches to the treatment of eczema. Clinical Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, Volume 15, 2721–2735. https://doi.org/10.2147/ccid.s393290
E. Vocks; R. Busch; C. Fröhlich; S. Borelli; H. Mayer; J. Ring. (2001). Influence of weather and climate on subjective symptom intensity in atopic eczema. , 45(1), 27–33. doi:10.1007/s004840000077