The Dry, Sensitive Skin Trinity: Cetaphil, Robathol, and Eucerin

I have incredibly dry, sensitive skin. I've had eczema all of my life, and the severity of it changes depending my stress, on the weather, and on my exposure to allergens. There are 3 products that have helped me to heal my skin with very little medicated creams or ointments, and since I began using them regularly, my eczema is under control. They are dye and fragrance free, and I recommend them without hesitation to everyone with eczema I meet.

In the shower I use Cetaphil Cleansing Lotion and Robathol Bath Oil. The Cetaphil cleans my skin without leaving it dry or irritated. Even though it is a moisturizing cleanser, it does not leave a greasy film. Instead, my skin is soft and supple. It's gentle enough to use on my face, and it didn't even irritate a serious case of road rash on my back.

At the end of my shower, I apply the Robathol and then rinse it off. Before I started using this oil, my skin would feel dry and tight as soon as I got dressed after my shower. The oil does leave a sort of coating on my skin, but it isn't slippery, and I've never had any problems with it clogging my pores.

My final skin care step is to slather on a layer of Eucerin Cream. This stuff is thick, and it takes a while to rub it in. I wouldn't recommend it unless you have very dry skin. My husband calls it "paste," and he doesn't like the way it makes his skin feel greasy. But for my skin, it is a soothing treat, especially in drier winter months. Sometimes I'll switch to Eucerin Lotion in the summer for a lighter weight moisturizer, but most of the year I rely on the cream.

I've tried using the store brand cleansing lotion and moisturizing cream, but they didn't perform nearly as well as the Cetaphil and Eucerin. I've also tried other bath oils, but after a recommendation for my dermatologist I hunted down Robathol. You can order it online easily, and it' well worth it. You don't have to spend your winters in dry, tight, itchy skin.