Bath Soap

I use Melaleuca products - the gold bar or the Renew body wash for my little one - no rashes since! Love the stuff! They also have a nice lotion (Renew) that works well for his dry skin

Dr. Bonner's Castille Soap is great. I use for my kids as well as put epsom salt and baking soda in the bath.
Detox's and relaxes muscles.

Dr. Bonners is also a mild soap, it is a concentrate and phosphorus free so you dilute in another container.

Hi M.,
I'm chimming in again with my prehistoric advice. Back in the dark ages when mine were babies we were told to never use anything but 99.9% Pure Ivory soap. My daughter had no skin problems as long as I used it. I don't know if they even make it anymore. The trick is that it doesn't have a lot of additives. I don't know what it has in it but it works and it floats and the babies love to chase it around the tub. As with anything, be sure to rinse completely. A baking soda bath is still good for sensitive skin. Or --after the bath , change the water and do the baking soda rinse.

I was taught that a good mother bathed her babies and children every day!!!! And never put your older ones to bed without a bath!!!. I never knew what might happen but it was sure to be dire!!! Actually the worst thing that happened the they got the sheets dirty!! Anyhow I digress, as usual. By the time I had grandchildren I realized that this infant that couldn't even crawl couldn't possibly need a tub bath every day. A washcloth with every diaper change and a face and hand wash after meals should keep them pretty chean,
Something else from the "Old and Cheap" files. My Pam had extremely dry skin, in the winter especialy. All the lotions in the world didn't make any difference. Then my doctor told me to use baby oil after her bath. Don't dry her with a towel; use your hands to wipe most of the water off, then rub the baby oil into her skin. (We all know that our moisturizers work by keeping the moisture in our skin.) Keep rubbing until all the water is absorbed into the skin. Hopefully you didn't use so much oil that it didn't rub in too! Other wise she will be like a greased pig. Handle with care.:) BTW---a wet washcloth is much cheaper that a Baby Wipe and you do a load of laundry every day anyhow.
Love to all young mothers and God bless you. You have a huge and very important job.
Great- Grandma

I would pay attention to ingredients on each you try and see if there are ones that are similar. I have a friend whose son is allergic to ALOE of all things! It's in everything, even organic.

Also, depending on age, maybe you could try a shower, so he/she is not sitting in the soap for long, and getting thoroughly rinsed, or ending with a spray from a hand-held shower thing? Just a thought.

Also, are you sure it's bath soap and not laundry soap on the towel, etc? Just tossing that out there as a thought too.

Cetaphil worked for my kids with sensitive skin. We also used Aveeno products.

My son has Exzema (that might be spelled wrong) and it flares up easily if something is irritating him. Summer time is the worst for it. Anyway, since he was a baby we have been using the Aveeno Baby products. I use the Moisturizing Shampoo (like a tannish cap), Moisturizing Body Wash (a dark blue cap), and i also have the Relaxing Lavender and Chamomile Bath (purple lid, you just run a little under the water as you are filling the tub and it is really nice). Then we use their lotions as well. I have the daily moisturizer stuff (light blue cap) another kind, it is thicker and it is in the dark blue cap, and then the relaxing one in the purple cap before bedtime and it works wonders. My son is 2 1/2 so we have been doin this for a long time and i can not remember the last time he broke out. I know we CAN NOT use any of the fun Disney character bubble baths or anything because he breaks out in a horrible rash from them, so that is why i am glad they made the relaxing bath stuff. When he was littler i also used some of the Arbonne Baby Care line. I use their sunscreen to this day and i have the oil to put on his flare ups. We also have to use special laundry detergent for sensitive skins. We use ALL free of dye and fragrance and we dont use any fabric softner cause that will surley cause a break out right away. so i know you asked just about bath soaps, so sorry i babbled on. But that is what we do for my sensitive skin boy. good luck and hope it helps!

Dr. Bronner's Magic Bar Soaps. We use the peppermint and LOVE it. If you have a Trader Joe's around, it's cheap there. Otherwise Target also carries it.

http://www.target.com/gp/detail.html/186-###-###-####-###...

Contains No Synthetic Colors, Essential Oils, No Synthetic Fragrances, Certified Organic Ingredients, 90% Natural Ingredients
Petroleum Free, Chemical Free, No Dyes Used, DMDM Hydantoin and Paraben Free, SLS and Phthalate Free

Kiss My Face Pure Olive Oil bar soap is also excellent!!

I've seen way too much eczema in the last 14 years of working as a doula and nanny! I suspect it is the liquid "soaps". Look at the ingredients! You are washing your baby in detergents! Stick to the pure soaps, Ivory, pure glycerine soaps...simple bar soaps. Watch your toothpaste also. Don't use anything with sodium laryl sulphate. Very irritating to the mouth and lips--dry cracked lips, canker sores, etc.. Melaluca and Berts Bees are two that I know of.

Updated

I've seen way too much eczema in the last 14 years of working as a doula and nanny! I suspect it is the liquid "soaps". Look at the ingredients! You are washing your baby in detergents! Stick to the pure soaps, Ivory, pure glycerine soaps...simple bar soaps. Watch your toothpaste also. Don't use anything with sodium laryl sulphate. Very irritating to the mouth and lips--dry cracked lips, canker sores, etc.. Melaluca and Berts Bees are two that I know of.

My pediatri. has us only use Dove soap. She said the Johnson & Johnson typical baby products are too perfumed & harsh. Have a 5 yr old boy now & that's the only soap we've ever used on him & it's been great.

I would sugest Melaleuca! It's a very good line of products very focused on the health and comfort of their consumers. No harsh chemicals and has been proven to help clear up eczema. They have child shampoo and soaps, as well as an adult line. Let me know if I can get you anymore information! Good luck finding the right soaps!

J.

Melalueca.........for everything. Bathing, Shampoo, lotions, first aid, laundry detergent, household cleaning products. When I first saw a demonstration of the products, I tried them just to prove nothing could work that well. I was hooked with my first order. It really does work that well. I replaced all of my household cleaning products with Melalueca, I prefer to dilute the shampoo and body wash 1/2 and 1/2 with water, works beautifully as well as lasts longer. I itch all over if I use any laundry products but Melalueca; I've tried every sensitive skin/fragrence-dye free brand from the store, still itch. After a few months of "not" having any of the store bought household cleaning products in my house, I just walked down that isle at the store, and started sneezing and my eyes and nose began itching. We just don't realize how harmful chemicals can be, because we are surrounded by them all the time. Everyone of my friends and family that ever try it, love it. There is nothing like the Melagel for the cuts and scrapes that our little ones get, my 3 year old neice doesn't want anything but the "little white circle" put on her booboo's, (it comes in a little white disc or tube) when a 3 yr old endorses it, you know it has to be good!. lol

Cetaphil works for my little one. His eczema is so bad that every time I bathe him he gets raw from the top of his head to his feet. (Literally , his scalp too!) Even his eyelids and lips get raw and his skin looks torn and jagged. It just cracks open on his face and bleeds. So, I use Cetaphil to cleans him and Cetaphil moisturizing cream to moisturize him. Nothing else. Also, I have to use Dreft laundry detergent and Dreft stain remover to pretreat stains. Hope this helps:-)

I was reading the advice here and found alot of good and helpful information. One thing that concerns me though is a comment that we dont need to use soap every day..This concerns me because my 2 year old got a Staph (yes MRSA) infection from daycare. She is 4 now and we are STILL trying to get rid of it. Now my new baby, my older daughter, my husband and I have it and we cant get rid of it. MRSA compromises your immune system Please be careful and DEFINATELY use soap everyday!!

try the dove soap for sensitive skin, I have had alot of problems with my skin lately an dr. told me a bath every other day an lukewarm water an to use dove for sensitive skin.

We use Weleda's Baby Calendula Shampoo & Body Wash. It is very gentle, organic, and pure. I love that their slogan is "because what goes on your baby goes in your baby". It is a little pricey, but you don't have to use very much. You can find it online at amazon.com or in some natural food stores.

I would also suggest that you might try two or three different soaps that don't give an initial reaction and try switching between them every other time. I know this works for me with food sensitivities so you never know it might work for your toddler as well.

Good luck to you.

We dealt with this too, and had to think beyond just soap. We had to get rid of all soaps/products for babies (lots of fragrance). We used Dove and lots of lotion (adult Aveeno or Cetaphil). I also used All Free and Clear for laundry.

If none of the soaps work, you coul dalways bathe her with baking soda. You can even wash her hair with it. I have friends that use it exclusively on their children & their hair is SOOOO soft.

Over the years different members of our family experienced these same red bumps. Just three years ago I purchased a LaundryPure so that I no longer use detergent or softener to do laundry and all the red bumps disappeared. So we realized they were not only caused by bath soaps but also by the detergent residue in our clothes. We advertised with mamapedia all last year but if you have seen our ad you can investigate for yourself by going to www.envirofresh.net and click on products--environmental purity--laundrypure. Good Luck, L. N.

Commercial baby products have petroleum in them. Find an organic product that is peteoleum free. Melalucca is a good products....their bar soap is very good and doesn't even have to be "baby" products to be better to use. Also baby creams have petroleum. This was a shock to me when I found this out. Look at a health food store to try to find something better than the age old products.

I see you got so many good suggestions but figured I would still add mine. We use Burts Bee's Baby Bee Shampoo and Wash. Its very gentle and rinses easily.

My baby had the same reaction and our pediatrician suggested dove for sensitive skin. Make sure it says for sensitive skin only. It worked great.
I hope this helps.

Most dermatologists will tell you to stay away from Ivory. it is actually harsh on dry skin. It's the ingredients in it. Dove is what I have always heard as best.
good luck!
R.

I don't think anyone mentioned Purpose Soap. It comes in bar and liquid form and it's inexpensive. We used it on my child for almost 2 years with no problem (recently we switched to Dove Sensentive Skin--it is alittle cheaper). But Purpose was all we used for the first 2 years--even to wash her hair. You can find it at Walmart or most grocery stores. I have never found it at Target. After her bath we put Aquaphor all over her! I hope this helps!

I too use Melaleuca products... They are chemical and toxic free... They have childrens body wash and hair shampoo... They have a Line called renew its been proven to be 7times more effective then Eucerin..... They just came out with a renew body wash, We absolutely love it... I have a 6yr, 41/2yr, and almost 3yr twins(they have bad ashthma) Having these products in my house (they have almost 400 everyday products) have been a blessimg to my boys health.. Just wanted to share my experience... Go to their website and read all about the company.... Feel free to email me personally if you have any questions...Good Luck and God Bless.....
C.
____@____.com

My daughter has ezema as well. The only things that help her is using Cetaphil bodywash or soap (Walmart has a cheaper version that we use), hydrocortizone cream, and Cetaphil lotion. We only give her a bath every other day (unless she is extremely dirty from playing outside) because water itself will dry out a toddlers sensitve skin. We also lotion her up every morning and every night. When she does have a outbreak (usually when I use scented shampoos or she gets over heated) we will use the hydrocortisone cream until the bumps are gone. Cetaphil lotion is the mildest soap or lotion on the market and does not have purfumes. If you are using washing detergents that have dyes and purfumes, try changing to a dye free purfume free detergent (All and Purex are really good).
Hope this information helps. Keep in mind most children grow out of ezcema.

Good Luck!

Our dermatologist said to use Dove for Sensitive Skin (bar) & Aquaphor afterwards to moisturize (put on while child still damp). This combo. is for dry skin/eczema.

not sure if you tried it but Dove unscented soap for sentitive skin has really worked for my son - no more rashes or bumps after a bath!

Dr. Bronner's Mild Castile soap!!!! Castile soap is the mildest soap around. Most name brand soaps are loaded with synthetic fragrances and chemicals. Dr. Bronner's is about $4 a bar. Please consider this as opposed to cheaper options. Her skin deserves it and will be thankful as she grows into it.

I have allergic eczema and have to use gloves even to wash hair. It is not necessary to use soap everyday. I know that sounds weird, but water alone is enough most of the time. When you do need to use soap two that work for me are Dove White bar and Vanicream products. Vanicream makes soap, shampoo, conditioner, lotions... Because remember that when you was their hair, the shampoo runs down their skin and can irritate. I have found vanicream at Target, some Walgreens and online at www.vanicream.com. Also, Walgreens pharmacy will order it for you so you can avoid shipping costs. And ALWAYS moisturize when skin is still damp. I love Aveeno Daily moisturizing lotion with oatmeal. Good Luck!

I've been using Method baby and kid products on my kids and love it. they are natural products and very safe....

My toddler also has very sensitive skin, and the only soap (and lotion, shampoo, etc) we can use on her is California Baby Super Sensitive Skin wash and shampoo. I find it at Target or Whole Foods, or order online. It's not cheap, but has been the only thing we don't have problems with. I think Dr. Bonner's would also be great.

You will be amazed how many toxins are in lotions/soaps that say they are for sensitive skin. Check out this website. It was an eye opener for me. Find a soap that is not toxic and hopefully this will help your child.

Skin Deep: Cosmetic Safety Reviews
The Environmental Working Group's searchable database of toxic ingredients in cosmetic and personal care products.
www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/

My daughter was the same as your daughter. We FINALLY pinpointed a coconut & palm allergy. We use Kiss My Face Olive Oil soaps on her and I can not say enough good things aobut them! My dd's skin is so much softer and clearer, and when she has an eczema flare using the soap (followed by an amazing mositurizer) takes all of the redness and itch out of it. For shampoo we use Mango Moisture by Alba Botanica, and for conditioner we use Olive Oil Formula Conditioner by Palmers. They are the only coconut free options I've found - but doing so has cleared her up so amazingly I can't believe she's the same kid! I've been using them also and my skin is clear and itch free for the first time ever. The mositurizer we use is called Tortuga Super Emollient Cream. I got it from www.allergiesandme.com. Good luck to you! I hope you find relief soon! - J.

Just chiming in with another plug for Dr. Bronner's pure castille soap. Super cheap, lasts forever when appropriately diluted. Check it out :)

I agree with Andrea S., just because it says natural, doesn't mean it is good for baby's or (anybody's for that matter) skin. There are many natural ingredients have a sensitizing effect on skin. A key thing to avoid is any type of fragrance. Fragrance smells nice, but in no way benefits your skin. My daughters and I have sensitive skin. We use California Baby Super Sensitive Shampoo and Body Wash - No Fragrance, and Aquaphor Baby Gentle Wash. They can both be found at Target stores.

my kids both have sensitive skin with eczema...we use Dove for sensitive skin (bar soap) and it works perfectly for them.

Hi M.,
I am going to send you a link. I am a Shaklee Independent Distributor and this past year Shaklee came out with a great line of baby products I think will work for you. If you don't know about Shaklee it's a great company that has been around and into the "natural" since the 1950's!
P.

Here is a link to a baby wash in particular: http://healinghappens.myshaklee.com/us/en/products.php?sk...

Here is a link to all kids products:
http://healinghappens.myshaklee.com/us/en/category.php?ma...

Baby's skin is so very tender and you really have to watch what is in the products. Fragrance, mineral oil, alcohol and words you can't pronounce are all red flags. The only way you can be totally assured of pure and safe products is if it's certified organic. I have been using a great line of products from Miessence that have 3 certifications and are absolutely outstanding! I'd be happy to provide you more information to make an educated decision. It truly is "buyer beware" and you really have to watch even what you wash their clothes with. Best to you,

K.
Wellness Consultant

I really like the Aveeno creamy wash and use the shampoo too. All 3 of my kids have sensitive skin as well as eczema and I find this works well. And we give them an oatmeal bath with the Aveeno as well when they have flair ups and that seems to help. Also use Vanicream right away after they get out to keep them moisturized. You can get that at Walgreens. Good luck.

My son had eczema until a little after he turned 2. He is almost 3 now. We've been using Dove body wash for some time now and it is working well. They have the generic one at Target and we've used that without a problem too to save money. Those are usually less than $2 a bottle. It is a very gentle cleanser and works great. I don't know if it went away because of switching soaps but it is gone so we just keep using it.

Someone else has mentioned this as well but Iam again, I have sensitive skin, not allergies just sensitive and have to use Dove! Rather it be the bar or the body soap on one of those spongey things. Good Luck to u. Im not sure if they make them with no perfume in them or what, but I do believe they make them as a mild soap...Good luck to u and your poor daughter!

Hi M. S.,
I did a quick sweep of the responses and didn't see RoBathol mentioned. You can buy it through the Vanicream website that was mentioned. We've struggled through the exzema issues for three years now. Robathol was huge for us. We started using it on my 5 year old about a year ago with noticeable improvement, almost immediately. I also use Dove Sensitive bath wash when I feel a little more soap is needed. The Free and Clear shampoo does a beautiful job-soft and clean hair! Just don't let her lay back down in the Robathol to rinse-it'll leave it a little oily. I use Eucerin Original lotion after her bath-Vaseline if I think she needs a good coating:-) These were all listed as suggestions by my dermatologist and we are sooooo much better. One thing that helped me was this statement by the doc-"We call exzema the itch that rashes". In other words, keep her skin hydrated no matter what! Good luck!

We use Johnson & Johnson bar soap. It seems to work but I do not wash her hair in the tub. When she is done with her bath we do rinse her with water to make sure all of the soap is off. We had to go through a lot of products also because of her sensitive skin. Good luck!

did you try dove soap? that is what the dermatologist had us do when our sonwas a baby. he was covered head-to-toe with eczema. Also, they told us not to use soap at all if we could avoid it. just warm water. then, we had to slick him up with vaseline. it did the trick! the other thing, they didn't really want us to give him a bath everyday.

Are you sure she doesn't have keratosis pilaris? It is a common condition and if that is the case, it has nothing to do with soap. There isn't alot you can do about it other than keep the skin moisturized and then there are some lotions with lactic acid that can help smooth away the dead skin but that is probably too harsh for a young child. I don't know if the doctor you are talking to would necessarily be educated enough in dermatology to be able to recognize the difference between an allergy and keratosis pilaris. I would go to an actual dermatologist just to be sure.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keratosis_pilaris

And, beware, just because products are "natural" doesn't mean they are good for the skin. A lot of natural things are skin irritants, and there are alot of man made things that are good/moisturizing for skin.

Nor sure if anyone has suggested this yet but Dove unscented is really, really good. It must be the bar soap, do not sure the liquid. It is very mild.

My dermatologist recommended Vanicream (sunscreens, lotions, creams -- and I think the soap also) and Free and Clear (shampoo, conditioner) products after I had a bad reaction to a cosmetic skin care product (my face blistered). Sometimes I can find the products at Walgreens, but can also order from Dermadoctor website. Labels state: "Free of dyes, lanolin, fragrance, masking fragrance, parabens, & formaldehyde"

I still use Ivory soap and never had problem

Updated

Ivory Soap still works.

There is a mild skin condition...I cannot remember for the life of me what it's called, but it's basically where a build-up of skin cells occurs and the pores become clogged and turn into tiny pimples or whiteheads. It CAN be irritated by soaps, but generally gentle exfoliation either physical -beads- or chemical -salicylic acid- helps reduce them. My daughter gets them on the backs of her arms only, and she's had them nearly since birth. I'm what people would call a "skin-picker" and it annoyed the HELL out of me to see it...my fingers would twitch fighting not to squeeze them off her arms. Bad I know... but needless to say it bothered me much more than it did her. I used to bathe her EVERY SINGLE NIGHT without fail (in her first 18 months I think she went like maybe 5 nights without a bath?), using gentle soaps and thick, moisturizing cream. Mostly, if nothing else, to keep up a good bedtime routine, for both myself and her. Her dad chastised me for it constantly, saying she didn't always need a bath and calling me a germaphobe OCD... that wasn't the case, as I always told him, I just liked the routine for her, it helped her sleep better. ANYWAY, now she's 3 and gets a bath maybe once a week. Laziness on my part? Maybe a little, because she DOES sleep better after a bath still and when she is wound up that motivates me to give her one sometimes. (A big reason being that I live with my parents for now and they're having BAD plumbing problems in the bathroom and keep delaying its repair *rolls eyes* and it's a huge pain in the butt.)

But I also notice that these bumps have started going away as she gets less baths... also, she doesn't really get THAT dirty. A wet washcloth or baby wipes for her sticky hands and mouth throughout the day and on her butt at the end of the night takes care of most of it. Anyway, you would think that with a condition consisting of clogged pores, that washing the dead skin off would help it go away, and it does to an extent, but also is counteractive if it is irritating at the same time, and can inflame the skin, causing bumps. Also, another possible reason, besides less baths, that my daughter's bumps have been going away, is that I also switched her from baby lotion to just plain Aveeno that I use on myself (same price for twice as much) and it's thick, creamy, and very "waterproof" for up to several days, even in winter - and she has pretty dry skin sometimes. I used to use baby oil on her but this works even better.

Hope I've helped. :)

I am not sure exactly where you are...but there is a place in Oregon, IL called the Oregon Soap Shoppe and their soaps are amazing! She makes all of her soaps by hand with only natural ingredients etc. Plus any of their soaps can be used for body, face, or hair :) I believe you can order some from their website and they do have different kinds for different skin concerns. I would give her a call (she is the nicest lady) I bet their number is on the website, and I'm sure she could reccomend a soap for you to try. Plus she might give you some samples to get you started. Good luck and let us know what works!

We did a lot of trial and error as well. We saw some improvement with Dove, but Mustela worked best for our daughter. They have hypoallergenic products for eczema-prone skin. I get it at Babies R Us, but I'm sure they sell it other places as well. It's not cheap, but it by far has worked the best for us. Good luck!

Two of my kids have mild keratosis pilaris. It's like the bumps that a lot of people have on their upper arms, only theirs was also on their face. There really isn't a lot you can do although there are a few creams out there that claim to help. It might be worth trying them. My pediatrician actually told me not to put anything in the bath water itself as everything would be an irritant.
A really good soap is Cetaphil, which you can buy in Walgreens etc. It is recommended by most dermatologists to anyone with skin issues because it has no lanolin in it, which often causes problems.
Incidentally, my teenager now has no problems so the keratosis pilaris often goes away of its own accord.

DOVE for sensitive skin! I use it on my 6 month old and his skin stopped cracking and is smooth.

Aveeno baby wash....all my 8 1/2 yr old has EVER been able to use suffers from atopic dermatitis, we have to use presciption cream and slather him in Eucerin after every bath/shower....but the Aveeno does not make him "break out"....as well it may not be the wash but the shampoo you use....we have to shampoo 1st then use Aveeno wash and rinse really well

Trying to switch soaps is always a great place to start! I suggest Weleda Baby Calendula soap. Adults get addicted as well it's so wonderful, and it has natural deodorant properties.
Liz

Try using clear water for awhile, but if you're not comfortable with that Pure-Castile Soap Made with Organic Oils Dr. Bronner's Unscented Baby Mild (purchase from Health Food Store). Also, Calendula Baby Shampoo Bath Wash is good. In addition it can also be the eczema because it's caused by changes in humidity. My husband and son both have it. I've had to change my son's (7months) baby wash, detergent and formula. He's much much better now.
God Bless.

I typically don't use soap, just water and essential oils. It doesn't dry out there skin, but the water and a washcloth still keeps them clean. The red bumps sound like eczema. Be sure that you keep the skin hydrated with a really good lotion. I use Renew lotion for myself and on my 1 year old daughter, when our eczema breaks out.

Our daughter has very sensitive skin as well. Our doctor had us switch to plain old Dove soap and it's been working out.

From a skimming, I didn't see anyone mention this, so I'll throw it out there. Arbonne is one of those direct sales companies. All natural products, from one of their parties, I found out about things like formaldahyde in some baby products. They can be a little pricey, but when you've tried so many other things, sometimes, you have to go there. My son and I have eczema as well and it seems to help him a little. Might do more for you. You can check their website to find a consultant. Another good thing about their stuff is, it can last a long time, since you don't have to use much at all. Good luck, this sounds like a pain for you guys :(

Just thought I'd throw in another suggestion. Daisy Blue Naturals has great baby (and Mommy) bath items. As some have posted, there are alot of chemicals in soaps, even those that claim that they are natural. The only way to know for sure is to read the ingredients. Daisy Blue is the only TRULY natural skincare company out there. No Artificial preservatives, petrochemicals, sulfates. Only the purest ingredients that God gave us! I can get you a sample of our soap and lotion if you'd like! And yes, just because it's natural doesn't mean you won't react to it. Molds and pollens are natural and people are allergic to them.

Cetaphil for washing followed by Neutrogena Norwegian Creme for moisturizing (Aquafor for nosebleeds, but that's another story). This is what the derm. dr. prescribed for my daughter ( the dr. also lectured on the benefits of not using water too warm. Cool water in a heated bathroom if needed.)

If your child has sensitive skin, I'd recommend asking your pediatrician or seeing a dermatologist to see what they recommend.

Each child will respond differently based upon their individual sensitivities.

However, I'd venture to guess there are a lot of products on the market most of us don't know about because they're less common and don't pay for the shelf space in most pharmacies/stores.

Our dermatologist recommended Vanicream for our daughter's eczema. Usually, Walgreen's has 1 tub in stock because it's not a product that moves often, but it's AWESOME! It never hurts to ask, and to have the endorsement of practicing physicians is something I always look for personally.

Dove soap use to be plain soap,now to keep up w/competitors it has "detergent" in it. Keep away from anything resembling "Laureth sulfate" My children and I also have eczema and have found Cal Ben Soap Co. works the best with our skin.
Also helpful to us is solveeczema.com website

I also wash the tub with 1/4 cup vinegar and 1/4 cup baking soda instead of harmful chemicals that can leave a residue. We onlywear cotton PJ's because of our sensitive skin. In the rinse cycle of our clothes I add the same 1/2 cup vinegar, I know you would think it stinks, but it rinses out and with it the residue left behind. My husband is grateful as his work out attire no longer have that funky smell. Some of the new work out clothes are prone to this residue.