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Healing Ointment

Skin BarrierOintment

Healing Ointment — Reddit Reviews

by CeraVe

91nextscore239 verdicts

Updated October 28, 2026

46.5% petrolatum slugging seals tretinoin dryness; ceramides support compromised barriers.

What the community says

Backed by 57 studies

A 46.5% petrolatum ointment that seals moisturizer into flaky, retinoid-irritated skin. Best used as a thin nighttime topcoat for dry patches and eczema-prone hands. Its glossy, sticky finish can feel suffocating and may worsen acne or facial flares.

From Reddit

Backed by 29 threads from r/tretinoin, r/eczema and 5 more.

Read the threads ↓

What people love

Watch out for

  • Thick, glossy, sticky finish; poor daytime wear
  • Can worsen chin acne and breakouts
  • Occlusion can aggravate some facial eczema flares

Product details

How to use it

From Reddit routines

How Reddit uses it

What the science says vs. what Reddit says

  • Skin Barrier

    Some evidence

    Petrolatum: 13 studies tested it directly. See all 22 studies

    On Reddit: Dry-climate bedtime slugging seals moisturizer in overnight. 77 mentions

    Both ingredients for skin barrier

    Petrolatum Some evidence

    • Most studies found it helped the skin barrier
    • It often lowered water loss and helped skin hold more moisture
    • It helped damaged skin recover faster and protected skin from some irritants
    • It improved dry, itchy skin in some studies, including in older adults and babies
    • A few studies found no clear extra benefit over a control or another moisturizer

    Ceramides Some evidence

    2 studies tested it directly. See all 15 studies

    • Both studies that tested it directly found it helped the skin barrier
    • Skin held moisture better and had less water loss through the skin
    • Dry, sensitive skin looked less dry in the study using a ceramide-like spray
    • One ceramide moisturizer helped, but it helped less than the comparison product
  • Eczema

    Some evidence

    Petrolatum: 6 studies tested it directly. See all 8 studies

    On Reddit: Bad hand flare-ups prompt slathering it on under cotton gloves before bed. 38 mentions

    Both ingredients for eczema

    Petrolatum Some evidence

    • Most studies found petrolatum helped eczema or related skin changes
    • Studies found it could lower how bad eczema was and reduce scaling
    • It improved hand eczema symptoms, but was not better than another moisturizer
    • It improved how much water the skin held, though another product worked better in some areas
    • One study found another moisturizer helped eczema more than petrolatum

    Ceramides Not proven yet

    Few or mixed studies. This claim isn't established.

    5 studies tested it directly. See all 13 studies

    • The results were split, so there is no clear answer yet on whether ceramides help eczema
    • Some studies found ceramide creams improved eczema symptoms
    • Some studies found ceramides worked about as well as other moisturizers, not better
    • One study found a ceramide moisturizer helped the skin hold more water

Research context, not treatment advice. Studies are about the ingredient, not necessarily this exact product.

Real Reddit threads — 333 mentions across 29 threads

CeraVe Healing Ointment on Reddit, in one place — 29 threads from r/tretinoin, r/eczema and 5 more, summarized.

“I've recently discovered that using Cerave healing ointment over moisturizer really helps with peeling and flakey patches”

Mentioned

“Cerave healing ointment”

Mentioned

“really helps with peeling and flakey patches”

Mentioned

“First I tried using just Cetaphil gentle cleanser, Amerigel, and CeraVe healing ointment.”

Mentioned

“It helped a bit, but was not very gentle on my face.”

Mentioned

“Honest brand Honey balm (as an occupant alternative to Cerave Ointment)”

Mentioned

“Cerave healing ointment”

Positive

“when all that settles you can rub a tiny amount of cerave healing ointment over top”

Positive

“If it’s dry later I will add more moisturizer or pat on the cerave healing ointment.”

Positive

“either the original vaseline or the cerave healing ointment is recommended”

Mentioned

“it’s an occlusive so it’s very useful at the end of a routine to seal in any moisture”

Mentioned

“recommended - dyes etc in the lip therapy vaselines could cause breakouts”

Mentioned

“Seal it all in with CeraVe Healing Ointment”

Positive

“- Seal it all in with CeraVe Healing Ointment”

Positive

“PM:”

Positive

“Ive been using vaseline and Cerave healing ointment religiously”

Positive

“it seems like it clears up and comes back and spreads up and down his legs”

Positive

“My six year old is having trouble with eczema on the back of his knees.”

Positive

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