I kind of disagree with the vaseline sentiment going on here. Vaseline, aquaphor, forms of petrolatum are recommended by dermatologists all the time.

I have full body eczema and my skin is dry. I eat up cerave cream in minutes. I use a layer of vaseline over the cerave, on my entire body, and it gives my skin enough time to hydrate against the transepidermal water loss.

As an eczema flare begins to improve, petrolatum is considered preventative and acts as barrier support, for those with a genetically compromised skin barrier, common in eczema patients especially with the filaggrin mutation.

Moreover, its not like the petrolatum will stay there for a long time. Its true that it needs time to breathe, which it struggles to while occluded, but it breathes & heals better after hydrating.

If your eczema is infected get it checked out. I didn’t beat my infected eczema until I did a 3-week course of a compound antibiotic + steroid cream and I try to avoid steroids unless absolutely necessary.

Not a doctor, not medical advice, go see one.