If your child has eczema and food allergies, you already know that finding gentle skincare is its own challenge. For many families, eczema shows up first, before any food is ever introduced. That was true for both of my boys. When my second son’s skin started to look just like his older brother’s had around four months old, I already knew in my gut what was coming.
Managing eczema and food allergies together adds a layer of complexity to something as simple as picking a lotion. We are always searching for fragrance free products with gentle ingredients, but we also have to read every label carefully. Tree nuts and dairy turn up in popular skincare products more often than you would think. I wish there was it required for brands to disclose whether their personal care products contain any of the top 9 allergens. Hopefully someday!
Below are the fragrance free skincare products that work for our family. My kids have allergies to tree nuts, peanuts, dairy, sesame, and mustard, and these are the products we use daily. I’m not claiming these products treat or prevent eczema, just that they are gentle enough for my family’s very sensitive skin and have not caused any allergy issues. Every child’s allergies are different, so always check labels for your family’s specific needs.
One important note before we dive in: shea butter appears in a few of the products below. Shea butter is often classified as a tree nut, but it behaves differently from common allergenic tree nuts like almonds, cashews, and walnuts. Research indicates that shea butter contains little to no allergenic protein, and there are no documented allergic reactions to it in people with tree nut allergies. We have always used it in skin and hair products without any issue for our family. That said, I am not a medical professional and every child is different, so please do your own research and consult your allergist to determine what is safe for your family. One thing that came up in my research worth mentioning: if your child has a latex allergy, shea butter may be a concern as raw shea butter can contain latex.
Body Lotion
Derma E Vitamin E Fragrance Free Sensitive Skin Shea Body Lotion
We have been using this one for years. Most lotions we tried before this one fell into one of two problem categories: they would sting when applied, or the texture was just unbearable from a sensory standpoint. Too thick, too runny, too sticky. This lotion checks all the right boxes. It goes on smoothly, does not sting, and is not sticky, which makes it so much easier to get buy in from kids who are already sensitive to how things feel on their skin.
Hand Soap
Oregon Soap Company Foaming Aloe Baby Wash
If you are looking for a fragrance free hand soap for sensitive skin, this foaming soap the one we keep coming back to. We have it in every hand soap dispenser in our house, we travel with it, and at one point I even kept a pump at my son’s preschool because the soap they were using was far too harsh for his hands. Beyond being safe and gentle for my kids, it is also the only hand soap I can use daily without developing irritation under my rings.
Body Wash
Target Up&Up Baby Bath Wash and Shampoo – Fragrance Free
This is our everyday body wash for everyone in the house. It is gentle, affordable, and comes in a pump bottle which makes thins easier. If you are new to managing sensitive skin and the idea of using baby wash as an adult feels a little odd, I get it. But baby products are often the easiest way to find gentle fragrance free options and the “baby” label is really just marketing. The formula is what matters.
Sunscreen
MD Solar Sciences Mineral KidCreme
I prefer physical mineral sunscreens over chemical ones, but the white cast most leave behind is areal issue. Even products that claim to go on clear usually don’t. This one is different. It works well without irritating, doesn’t leave that ghostly white finish once it’s rubbed in, it’s water resistant, and the texture is more silky than sticky. For kids with sensory issues, that last part matters a lot. We use this one for the whole family.
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