Best Oil for Eczema-Prone Skin: Which Help, Which to Skip

Walk down any skincare aisle (or scroll any parenting group) and someone will swear by an oil for dry, eczema-prone skin. Coconut oil, olive oil, sunflower oil, almond oil, "baby oil." Some of those are genuinely helpful. One of them can actually make the skin barrier weaker. As parents who've spent years figuring out what works on our kids' skin, here's what the research says about oils, which ones we'd skip, and how to use an oil so it actually helps instead of just sitting on top.

The short answer

• Best-studied: virgin (cold-pressed) coconut oil and sunflower seed oil.
• Skip on eczema-prone skin: olive oil, fragranced oils and essential-oil blends.
• Use with care: almond and other nut oils if anyone in the house has a tree-nut allergy.
• Most important: an oil works best as a seal over damp skin or a cream. On its own, it adds very little water to dry skin.

Is oil a moisturizer?

Sort of. The National Eczema Association's moisturizing guide sorts moisturizers by how much oil and water they contain: lotions are mostly water, creams are water plus oil, and ointments are oil-based. The more oil, the better a product is at sealing moisture in, which is why the NEA says greasier creams and ointments tend to work best on eczema-prone skin.

A pure oil has no water in it at all. That's the catch. Rubbed onto dry, tight skin, it mostly makes the surface slick. Applied to skin that's still damp from a bath, or layered over a cream, it helps hold water in. Same oil, very different result.

Why some oils help and others don't

Plant oils aren't all the same. A 2018 review of natural oils for skin-barrier repair in the American Journal of Clinical Dermatology explains that the balance of two fatty acids matters most. Oils with more linoleic acid compared to oleic acid show better barrier-repair potential, while oils heavy in oleic acid can irritate and weaken the barrier. The same review points out that cold-pressed, unrefined oils keep more of their helpful lipids, and that essential oils and fragranced oils are a different thing entirely.

Common oils for eczema-prone skin, compared

Virgin coconut oil

This is the oil with the strongest study in kids. In a 2014 double-blind trial of virgin coconut oil vs. mineral oil in children with mild to moderate atopic dermatitis, 117 kids used one oil twice a day for eight weeks. Eczema severity scores dropped 68% in the coconut oil group and 38% in the mineral oil group, and the coconut oil group also lost less water through the skin. That's one study, though. The American Academy of Pediatrics' overview of alternative options for eczema says coconut oil's role is still to be determined. The NEA's coconut oil fact sheet is a good read before you try it. Choose virgin or cold-pressed, not refined.

Sunflower seed oil

Sunflower seed oil is high in linoleic acid. In a 2013 Pediatric Dermatology study comparing olive oil and sunflower seed oil, adult volunteers (with and without a history of eczema) applied each oil to a forearm twice a day for four weeks. Sunflower seed oil kept the skin barrier intact, didn't cause redness and improved hydration. It's a sensible, inexpensive choice, and it's one of the oils in our nut-free cream.

Olive oil

This is the one we'd skip. In that same 2013 study, four weeks of olive oil significantly reduced the skin barrier's integrity and caused mild redness, including in people with no eczema history. The authors concluded olive oil shouldn't be used for dry skin or infant massage. Olive oil is high in oleic acid, which fits the review above. Keep it in the kitchen.

Jojoba oil

Technically a liquid wax, jojoba is light and absorbs well. The American Academy of Dermatology lists jojoba oil among the ingredients to look for in a cream or ointment in its dermatologists' tips for dry skin, along with mineral oil, petrolatum, glycerin and shea butter.

Mineral oil and "baby oil"

Not glamorous, but the NEA calls out high-oil products like petroleum jelly and mineral oil as particularly good for eczema-prone skin because they seal so well. Plain baby oil is mostly mineral oil. Many versions add fragrance, so check the label for "fragrance-free."

Almond and other nut or food oils

Almond oil is a common, gentle emollient, and our Original cream contains it. The Eczema Society of Canada's guide to alternative therapies notes a theoretical risk of developing an allergy when food products go on broken skin, so caution makes sense. If anyone in your home has a tree-nut allergy, choose a nut-free product.

Essential oils and fragranced oils

Tea tree, lavender, peppermint and "relaxing" blends smell lovely, but fragrance is a common trigger for sensitive skin. The AAD's guide to finding eczema-friendly products for kids recommends fragrance-free over "unscented," since unscented products can still contain masking fragrance.

How to use an oil on eczema-prone skin

1. Keep baths short and warm, not hot. The AAD suggests five to ten minutes in warm water.
2. Pat, don't rub. Leave the skin a little damp.
3. Seal it in right away. The AAD says to apply moisturizer immediately after patting dry. Press a thin layer of oil onto damp skin, then follow with a cream or lotion. Or apply your cream first and use a few drops of oil on extra-dry spots like elbows, shins and knuckles.
4. Use a little. A few drops or one or two sprays covers more than you'd think. Skin should feel soft, not greasy enough to stain pajamas.
5. Patch test anything new. Try a small amount on the inner arm for a few days first. If you see redness or more itch, stop.

For more on timing, see our guides on how often to moisturize eczema-prone skin and why skin itches after a shower. If you like heavy overnight sealing, our slugging guide covers the ointment version of this idea.

Oil, cream or lotion: which one for our kids?

For most families, a thick cream should do the daily work and an oil plays a supporting role. A cream brings both water and oil, so it moisturizes and seals in one step. Our ointment vs. cream vs. lotion guide breaks down when each makes sense. Oil is handy for big areas after a bath, for adding slip so a cream spreads easily, and for extra-dry patches in winter.

Babies are a special case. Their skin is still developing, so talk with your pediatrician before using any oil on a newborn, and skip olive oil for baby massage based on the research above. Our baby eczema bath routine walks through a gentle routine step by step.

Where our products fit

We built our creams around oils that are kind to dry skin, plus the ingredient that does the heavy lifting: 1% colloidal oatmeal, a skin protectant.

• Original Skin-Soothing eczema cream: honey, beeswax, almond oil and 1% colloidal oatmeal to moisturize and soothe the look and feel of dry, itchy skin. NEA Seal of Acceptance and HSA/FSA eligible.
• Nut-Free Skin-Soothing Cream: the same idea made with grapeseed and sunflower oils instead of almond oil. Also HSA/FSA eligible.
• Antioxidant Body Oil: a spray blend of rosehip, rice bran, grapeseed, argan and jojoba oils with honey and oat. Use it on damp skin after a shower and follow with lotion. To be upfront: it contains a little lavender oil, so if fragrance components bother your family's skin, start with one of the creams instead.
• Oatmeal Body Lotion: a lighter layer for big areas over the body oil. HSA/FSA eligible.

In our experience with our kids, a steady nightly cream habit matters more than any single ingredient. You can read our lotion guide if you want a lighter daytime option.

This article is for general information and isn't medical advice. Talk with your doctor, dermatologist or pediatrician about any rash, persistent itch or skin change, and before changing your or your child's care plan.

FAQ

What is the best oil for eczema-prone skin?

The best-studied options are virgin coconut oil and sunflower seed oil. A 2014 trial in 117 children found virgin coconut oil outperformed mineral oil over eight weeks, and a 2013 study found sunflower seed oil kept the skin barrier intact. Mineral oil is also a solid, plain sealing option.

Is coconut oil good for eczema?

It can be a helpful moisturizer for some people. Use virgin or cold-pressed coconut oil, patch test first and remember the evidence is still limited to a small number of studies.

Why should I avoid olive oil on eczema-prone skin?

In a 2013 study, four weeks of olive oil weakened the skin barrier and caused mild redness, even in people without eczema. It's high in oleic acid, which can irritate the barrier.

Should I use oil before or after cream?

Either works if the goal is sealing in water. Press a thin layer of oil onto damp skin and follow with cream or lotion, or apply cream first and add a few drops of oil to extra-dry spots.

Can I put oil on my baby's eczema-prone skin?

Check with your pediatrician first, especially for newborns. Skip olive oil and fragranced or essential-oil blends, and patch test anything new.