
Healing Ointment — Reddit Reviews
by CeraVe
Updated October 28, 2026
46.5% petrolatum slugging seals tretinoin dryness; ceramides support compromised barriers.
What the community says
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.
What this means for you
What people love
- Petrolatum-heavy occlusive for slugging
- Ceramides plus hyaluronic acid
- Tretinoin dryness lifeline
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
Use caution
Skin Type
Product Traits
Key Ingredients
How to use it
From Reddit routinesHow Reddit uses it
Where to buy
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
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





