Why is the Dove Body Love Body Cleanser a top dermatologist recommendation for eczema? In addition to having a low toxicity and irritation rating (one out of 10), this gentle formula contains multiple ingredients that can help strengthen a damaged skin barrier, including colloidal oatmeal and glycerin. It’s also affordable and readily available at most drugstores and supermarkets.

What could be improved: As with most gentle body washes, this product contains cocamidopropyl betaine, which may cause irritation if you have an allergy to coconut derivatives. Some buyers also dislike the unscented “scent.”

What we like about the Vanicream Gentle Body Wash: This simple, no-nonsense and soap-free formula is gentle enough for highly irritated skin, but still produces a creamy lather that cleans dirt and sweat. It’s also oil, betaine and sulfate free, and doesn’t have an unpleasant unscented “scent.”

The downsides: The Vanicream Gentle Body Wash still has the potential to dry out skin, so applying a moisturizer after showering is highly recommended. It also contains coconut derivatives, which may cause irritation if you have a coconut allergy. This product has a low toxicity and irritation rating of three out of 10.

If most body washes are still too harsh or drying on your skin, consider an extremely gentle cleanser designed for face and body, like the Cetaphil Daily Facial Cleanser. It not only has the NEA Seal of Acceptance, but also has a low toxicity and irritation rating of one out of 10.

Something to keep in mind: This product produces a very mild lather, and it may feel as though it’s not cleaning your skin enough. It also contains coconut derivatives, which are potential allergens.

If you’re looking for a non-lathering, extremely gentle cleanser, the popular CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser also makes an excellent body wash for eczema, according to Dr. Liu. It contains ceramides which help strengthen the skin barrier, and the lack of cleansers or foaming agents makes it unlikely to cause irritation. This product has a low toxicity and irritation rating of three out of 10.

However, the CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser can get pricey, especially because you’ll run out more quickly if you are using it on your whole body. The formula also doesn’t contain obvious coconut derivatives, but it does contain a few ingredients that may be derived from coconut. (These include stearyl alcohol, glycerin and glyceryl monostearate.) Behentrimonium methosulfate, a skin conditioning ingredient, also has the potential to cause an allergic reaction.

Looking for an eczema-friendly body wash that doesn’t leave your skin tight and dry, but still produces a lather? If so, consider the Lubriderm Advanced Therapy Body Wash. This fragrance-free formula has a silky, creamy feel that leaves the skin feeling soothed and hydrated, thanks to ingredients like glycerin, ceramides, vitamin E, oat kernel flour and oat kernel oil. It’s also affordable and easy to find at most pharmacies and supermarkets. This product does not yet have a toxicity and irritation rating, though SkinSafe rates this as a 91% allergen-free product.

The downsides: This product contains PEG-80, which has the potential to cause irritation if you have an allergy to polyethylene glycol. It also contains cocamidopropyl betaine, another potential allergen.

What we like about the Honest Soothing Therapy Body Wash: This product is designed to minimize eczema flare-ups and improve the skin barrier over time. Soothing ingredients include glycerin, colloidal oatmeal, coconut oil and aloe vera. The formula also has the NEA Seal of Acceptance. This product does not yet have a toxicity and irritation rating, though similar Honest Company products are EWG verified, meaning they meet the organization’s highest standards for health and safety.

While many customers may appreciate the lack of lather because it reduces the chance of irritation, some buyers may wish it had a rich lather. In addition, it can be difficult to squeeze product out of the tube, and the bottle is only eight ounces.

If you’re looking for a lightweight foam cleanser for oily, eczema-prone skin consider the La Roche Posay Foaming Cleanser. This face and body wash does an excellent job of gently cleaning skin without stripping it of moisture, thanks to key ingredients like ceramides, glycerin and prebiotic thermal water. It also contains a low dose of niacinamide, which can help ease redness and help the skin retain moisture.

On the other hand, this product may be too drying if you have dry eczema-prone skin. It also contains coconut derivatives which could cause an allergic reaction depending on your sensitivities. This product has a low toxicity and irritation rating of two out of 10.

Need a body wash that is gentle enough for baby skin? If so, we recommend the Baby Dove Sensitive Skin Hypoallergenic Body Wash. This formula is a favorite of dermatologists because it contains no sulfates, parabens or fragrance, and it gently hydrates the skin with non-irritating, breathable moisturizers like glycerin. It’s also affordable and available at most supermarkets and pharmacies.

Note that this product contains coconut derivatives, which may cause irritation if your baby is allergic to coconut. In addition, some customers wish it had more of a lather and left a “clean” feeling. This product has a low toxicity and irritation rating of two out of 10.

CeraVe also makes a baby wash that works well for eczema-prone skin, and we recommend it for babies and adults alike. The extremely gentle formula is fragrance, paraben and sulfate free, and its mild cleansers do a great job of clearing out dirt, oil and sweat without stripping skin of moisture. This product also has a low toxicity and irritation rating of two out of 10.

The downsides: The CeraVe Baby Wash & Shampoo contains coconut derivatives, which may cause an allergic reaction depending on your baby’s sensitivity. A few customers also received bottles with faulty nozzles. Note that this bottle is somewhat small for the price (eight ounces).

While most gel body washes are not eczema friendly, the Neutrogena Hydro Boost Hydrating Gel Cleanser is the exception. This lightweight formula turns into a rich, silky lather on the skin, and hydrators like glycerin and hyaluronic acid help the skin barrier retain moisture post shower. Overall, this is a great product for both the face and body, and it has the NEA Seal of Acceptance.

On the other hand, this product has a moderate toxicity and irritation rating of four out of 10 because it contains a small amount of fragrance. It also contains coconut derivatives, which may cause an allergic reaction depending on your sensitivities.

Struggling to alleviate itchy eczema? Consider the Aveeno Skin Relief Body Wash. The gentle formula can help soothe itchy skin if applied gently to affected areas, thanks to colloidal oatmeal and glycerin. It’s also fragrance, paraben, sulfate and dye free. This product has a low toxicity and irritation rating of three out of 10.

However, the gentle cleansers in this formula (sodium laureth sulfate and cocamidopropyl betaine) may still cause irritation depending on your eczema type and your specific sensitivities. Several other ingredients, including sodium benzoate and PEG-20 almond glycerides, may also cause irritation.

If certain ingredients in the Aveeno Skin Relief Body Wash may trigger your eczema, consider the CeraVe Eczema Soothing Body Wash instead. This soothing formula contains gentle, non-comedogenic, omega-rich oils that can help hydrate dry and flaky skin, including soybean oil and castor seed oil. It also contains ceramides, which can help repair the skin barrier. This product also has a low toxicity and irritation rating of three out of 10.

The downsides: Some buyers have experienced shipping issues when purchasing from Amazon (bottles can leak in the package). This oil-rich formula may also be too heavy on your skin and not leave it feeling “clean.”

If you have an allergy or sensitivity to coconut derivatives, finding a coconut-free soap for sensitive skin is very difficult. Fortunately, the Nature Sustained Organic Body Wash & Face Wash is a good alternative. The gel-like formula uses wildcrafted soap nut as its primary gentle cleanser, and it also contains natural probiotics that may improve the skin barrier’s function.

Note that the natural scent (similar to lemongrass and mild vinegar, which dissipates) may not appeal to some buyers. In addition, the unique ingredients, like wildcrafted Indian-laurel leaf and elephant apple may cause contact dermatitis depending on your allergies. This product does not yet have a toxicity and irritation rating.

What we like about the Puriya Free to Be Me Body Wash: This very gentle cleanser has only a slight lather, and it leaves skin feeling moisturized and clean. It contains soothing ingredients like glycerin, colloidal oatmeal, green tea, centella Asiatica leaf extract and kelp extract. It also has the NEA Seal of Acceptance.

However, this product may still cause contact dermatitis depending on your sensitivities, as it contains coconut derivatives and a few unique ingredients. It also does not yet have a toxicity and irritation rating.

Looking for a body wash that works not only for your body, but also your vaginal microbiome? If so, we recommend the Summer’s Eve Gentle Daily All-Over Feminine Body Wash. The pH-balanced, no-nonsense formula contains a few gentle cleansers and a small amount of lactic acid to improve overall skin health. In addition, this product has an NEA Seal of Acceptance.

This product does not yet have a toxicity and irritation rating. Similar Summer’s Eve products (with fragrance) have a rating of four out of 10. It may also be too drying, especially if you don’t apply moisturizer post shower.

If even the gentlest water-based cleansers feel too drying on your skin, an oil-based cleanser is worth a try. The Lipikar AP+ Gentle Foaming Cleansing Oil is eczema friendly, as it contains lightweight, non-comedogenic shea butter. It also has glycerin and niacinamide, which help hydrate the skin and reduce redness, respectively. This product has the NEA Seal of Acceptance and a low toxicity and irritation rating of two out of 10.

The downsides? The Lipikar AP+ Gentle Foaming Cleansing Oil may feel too hydrating if you have oily or combination skin. Some customers wish it had more oil-based ingredients, and that it had a lower price point for the bottle size.

Looking for an oil-based cleanser that contains a few more non-comedogenic oils? If so, check out the CeraVe Hydrating Foaming Oil Cleanser. This formula contains squalane, multiple ceramides (lipids) and sodium hyaluronate, cholesterol and triglyceride. It also has the NEA Seal of Acceptance and a low toxicity and irritation rating of two out of 10.

However, this product contains benzoic acid, a masking fragrance that may cause irritation on extremely sensitive skin. It’s also pricey for the bottle size, and isn’t ideal for oily skin.