Why does Eucerin lotion burn?

What makes a moisturizer sting?

Your skin barrier is the outer layer that keeps water in and irritants out. Harsh soaps, excessive scrubbing and overusing exfoliants can damage it. Dryness, flaking, tenderness and stinging when you apply skincare can accompany that damage. If several different moisturizers sting, the problem could be your skin's condition rather than one particular bottle.1

Urea attracts and holds water in the skin, but urea and acidic preparations often sting scratches and fissures, meaning cracks in the skin. Sensitive skin associated with eczema or rosacea can also react to moisturizers with burning or stinging. The sensation alone does not identify an allergy.35

Eucerin UreaRepair PLUS 5% Urea Lotion with soothing scent contains urea, lactic acid and fragrance listed as Parfum. A fragrance free 5% Urea Lotion also exists, but removing fragrance does not remove urea. Check the ingredients on your own packaging because Eucerin updates formulas. Fragrances and preservatives can cause allergic contact dermatitis, an allergic skin rash, in people sensitized to them.35

Should you keep using it?

Brief irritation that settles can generally allow continued use, but stop the product if a skin rash develops. Burning that persists or keeps returning deserves a conversation with a pharmacist or doctor rather than repeated applications. Burning or stinging that does not settle after a few days can reflect a reaction to an ingredient. Tell a dermatologist if anything you apply, including moisturizer, causes burning or irritation.236

How to moisturize without adding irritation

1. 1Wash gently with a mild, fragrance free cleanser and warm water. Keep showers or baths to five to ten minutes, and avoid scrubbing.
2. 2Pat your skin dry rather than rubbing it. Apply a moisturizer you tolerate while the skin is still damp.
3. 3Choose a fragrance free cream or ointment for very dry skin. If urea stings scratched or cracked areas, choose a moisturizer without urea for those areas.
4. 4Smooth the moisturizer on gently in the direction your hair grows. Reapply when your skin feels dry or tight, including after washing.
5. 5If you use a steroid cream or another skin treatment, leave 20 to 30 minutes between it and your moisturizer. Ask your doctor which to apply first.

Creams and ointments moisturize dry skin more effectively than lotions. A cream is less greasy for daytime use; an ointment is thicker and useful at night, so texture can have a job beyond winning the word "luxurious" on the packaging. Choose "fragrance free" rather than "unscented," which can still contain ingredients that hide odors and irritate dry, sensitive skin.26

What should you expect instead?

Eucerin's soothing scent 5% Urea Lotion is intended for dry, rough body skin and offers immediate dryness relief and moisturization lasting up to 48 hours. Eucerin directs you to massage it in gently and apply as often as required. Those directions are for moisturizing, not for pushing through an ongoing reaction.5

See a dermatologist if dryness continues despite gentle care, or if you develop a rash with the lotion. Persistent dry skin can need treatment for an underlying condition. If contact allergy is suspected, a dermatologist can investigate specific ingredients with patch testing rather than asking you to guess from the front label.36