Everyday skincare for eczema

In brief

• Eczema (atopic dermatitis) is a long-term condition in which the skin barrier holds water poorly, so the skin is dry, itchy and prone to flares.
• Moisturiser is the most important part of eczema care: at least twice a day, even on clear skin, and far more than most people use (roughly 500g a week for an adult).
• Take short, lukewarm showers with a fragrance-free, non-soap cleanser, and moisturise within a few minutes of patting dry.
• Wear cotton, use a fragrance-free detergent, skip fabric softener, and reduce exposure to triggers where you can.
• If your skin becomes red, very itchy or inflamed, you need flare treatment on top of moisturiser.

We assess eczema and review skincare routines at our Punggol clinic. Book a skin appointment.

A note about eczema

Eczema (atopic dermatitis) is common in Singapore. Around 13% of people have it at some point, and it is more common in children (about 1 in 5) than in adults.

The skin’s barrier doesn’t hold water well and over-reacts to irritants and allergens. The two hallmarks are dry skin (in about 73% of patients) and itch (in about 94%). Eczema typically flares and settles rather than staying constant.

Part of the “leakiness” comes from the skin’s structural proteins. One of the most important is filaggrin. It helps skin cells stick together, holds moisture in the outer layer, and keeps the pH right to defend against irritants and bacteria. Many people with eczema carry a gene variant that makes less filaggrin. This is one reason the barrier is more reactive and eczema runs in families. It is also why daily moisturising is a structural necessity, not just a comfort.

In Asian skin, eczema is often drier and more scaly than the images online. Chronic scratching can thicken the skin (lichenification). Active inflammation may look violet, grey or brown rather than bright red. Affected patches can also leave darker brown or grey marks (post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation) for weeks to months after a flare. These usually fade, but they are one reason to control flares early rather than let eczema run its course.

Eczema can’t be cured, but it can be controlled. With a consistent daily routine and the right flare treatment, most people get their skin well controlled. The goal is flare-free skin most of the time, with tools ready for flares.

Moisturise, moisturise, moisturise

Moisturiser is the most important part of eczema care, more important than any cream, lotion or medicine prescribed for a flare.

• Apply liberally, at least twice a day, even when your skin looks clear.
• Keep going during remissions. Moisturising only when the skin is bad is one of the commonest reasons flares come back.
• Use much more than you think you need. As a rough minimum, aim for about 500g per week for an adult, 250g per week for a child and 125g per week for an infant. These figures apply to any product. Lotions spread thinly, so you may use more; creams and especially oil-based ointments are more occlusive, so you may use less.
• Most people use a small fraction of this. When a moisturiser “isn’t working”, the cause is usually too little rather than the wrong product.
• Apply within a few minutes of showering, while the skin is still slightly damp. This traps water in the skin far better than applying later.

Choosing the right moisturiser

Look for:

• Fragrance-free and hypoallergenic. Fragrance is one of the commonest skin irritants.
• Ceramides. Ceramide-containing products are our usual first choice. Ceramides occur naturally in healthy skin and help rebuild the barrier that eczema has damaged.
• An oil-based ointment for very dry or cracked skin, or skin with small cuts. It is more occlusive than a lotion or cream, so it seals water in better.
• No urea during a flare. Urea is a good humectant for calm, dry skin, but it can sting cracked or inflamed skin.

If you use several products, apply them in order of thickness: gels first, then lotions, creams and ointments.

The best moisturiser is the one you will use every day. Cost and feel both matter, so try two or three to find one you’re happy to use twice a day for life.

Soak and seal — the bathing routine

How you shower matters almost as much as the moisturiser.

1. Lukewarm, not hot. Hot water strips the skin’s natural oils and worsens dryness.
2. Keep it short: 5 to 10 minutes is plenty.
3. Pat dry with a soft towel; don’t rub. Rubbing is a form of scratching and damages fragile skin.
4. Moisturise within a few minutes, while the skin is still slightly damp. This is “soak and seal”: you are sealing moisture into the damp skin.

Wash with a fragrance-free, non-soap cleanser. Bar soap is alkaline (pH around 9–10) and strips natural oils. Non-soap cleansers, called syndets (short for synthetic detergent), use gentler surfactants closer to the skin’s natural pH of about 5.5. Options in most local pharmacies include:

• Liquid / wash: Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser, CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser, QV Gentle Wash, Aveeno Skin Relief
• Bar: Cetaphil Cleansing & Moisturising Syndet Bar, Dove Sensitive Skin Beauty Bar (a syndet despite the “beauty bar” name), CeraVe Hydrating Cleansing Bar, Sebamed Cleansing Bar

If your skin is happy with one of these, there’s no need to switch. Not sure what you use? Bring it to your consultation and we’ll take a look.

What to wear, and how to wash it

• Cotton is kindest. Avoid wool (often itchy) and synthetic fabrics that trap heat and sweat.
• Wash clothes in a fragrance-free detergent.
• Skip fabric softener. Its fragrances and residues commonly irritate eczema-prone skin.
• For a child with sensitive skin, this applies to bed linen too, especially pillowcases and sheets.

Common triggers worth thinking about

The triggers most often identified in our patients in Singapore:

Environment:

• Extreme hot, cold or very dry weather (including prolonged aircon)
• House dust mites
• Pet dander
• Air pollutants, including haze
• Insect bites

Everyday life:

• Stress
• Smoking (including passive smoking for children)
• Rough or synthetic fabrics
• Chemical irritants (household cleaners, some personal care products)
• Other skin infections
• General illness: a cold or fever can set off a flare

You can’t avoid most of these completely, but reducing exposure where you can is worth the effort.

Food allergies are a more common trigger in children than in adults. In some adults whose eczema stays active despite a good routine and treatment, a specific food can occasionally contribute. Either way, raise it at a consultation rather than starting an elimination diet on your own. Poorly planned diets can cause nutritional problems, especially in children. For more, see Children with eczema — and when to call us.

Small things that make the routine stick

Twice-daily moisturising is simple but easy to skip. A few tricks help:

• Keep moisturiser by your bed, in your bag and by the basin. Friction is the enemy of consistency.
• Apply after hand-washing too; every wash strips moisture.
• Buy two of your favourite at a time, so you never run out and fall back on “whatever’s in the cupboard”.
• Attach it to an existing routine, such as after your shower or before bed.

When to read the other two guides

• If your skin is red, very itchy or inflamed, see Managing an eczema flare. Everyday skincare continues during a flare, but it doesn’t replace flare treatment.
• If you’re caring for a child or baby with eczema, or want the red-flag list for when to come in quickly, see Children with eczema — and when to call us.

Get in touch

Punggol — 658 Punggol East, #01-04, Singapore 820658 · Tel 6312 4589

Joo Chiat — 172 Joo Chiat Road, #01-01, Singapore 427443 · Tel 6920 1952

Email — admin@ktmc.sg

References

• Agency for Care Effectiveness (ACE). Mild and moderate atopic dermatitis (eczema) — a journey from flare to care. ACE Clinical Guideline, Ministry of Health, Singapore. February 2026. ace-hta.gov.sg
• Drislane C, Irvine AD. The role of filaggrin in atopic dermatitis and allergic disease. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2020;124(1):36-43. PubMed

This information is for general education only and is not a substitute for medical advice. Eczema management varies with severity, age, and individual factors — please speak with our team about what’s right for you. v1.1 · October 2026 (v1.0 April 2026) · Review due April 2028.