A&D ointment can help moisturize eczema-prone skin, but it’s far from the best option available. Its two active ingredients, petrolatum (53.4%) and lanolin (15.5%), do form a protective barrier that locks in moisture. However, the vitamins A and D in the formula provide no proven benefit for eczema, and the lanolin carries a small but real risk of making things worse, especially for people with sensitive or already-inflamed skin.
What A&D Ointment Actually Does
The heavy lifting in A&D ointment comes from petrolatum and lanolin, not the vitamins. Petrolatum works as an occlusive, meaning it sits on top of the skin and physically prevents water from escaping. Lanolin does something similar while also pulling small amounts of moisture into the outer skin layer. Together, they create a seal that can temporarily improve the skin’s barrier function, which is exactly what breaks down during an eczema flare.
The vitamins A and D are where the marketing diverges from the science. An evidence-based review published in Dermatologic Therapy found that topical vitamin A has no utility for atopic dermatitis, and topical vitamin D may actually exacerbate symptoms. So while A&D ointment isn’t harmful for most people, the ingredients that give it its name aren’t doing your eczema any favors.
The Lanolin Problem
Lanolin is the ingredient that separates A&D ointment from simpler alternatives, and not in a good way. It’s a natural wax derived from sheep’s wool, and it’s a known contact allergen. The prevalence of lanolin allergy among dermatitis patients has been rising, increasing from about 0.5% in 2004 to 1.8% in 2015. Research has also found a significant association between having atopic dermatitis and developing a lanolin allergy.
That might sound like a small percentage, but if your skin is already inflamed and you’re applying a potential allergen to it multiple times a day, you’re rolling the dice. A lanolin reaction looks a lot like an eczema flare (redness, itching, irritation), so you might not even realize the ointment is part of the problem. If your eczema seems to get worse after applying A&D ointment, lanolin sensitivity is a likely culprit.
How It Compares to Vaseline and Aquaphor
Plain white petrolatum (Vaseline) consistently outperforms more complex ointment formulations in skin studies. In one dermatology comparison, a petrolatum-based ointment with added ingredients caused redness in 52% of patients and swelling in 33%. White petrolatum alone caused redness in just 12%, with no statistically significant difference from using nothing at all. The simpler product was gentler while still reducing crusting and scabbing by more than half compared to untreated skin.
This pattern holds for eczema care more broadly. The more ingredients an ointment contains, the more opportunities there are for irritation. Plain petrolatum delivers the core benefit you need (barrier protection and moisture retention) without the extras that can backfire on reactive skin. Aquaphor falls somewhere in the middle: it contains petrolatum plus a few additional ingredients like panthenol and glycerin, but it’s lanolin-free in most formulations, which gives it an edge over A&D for eczema-prone skin.
What Works Better for Eczema
The foundation of eczema management is consistent moisturizing with a simple, fragrance-free product. Ointments work better than creams or lotions because their higher oil content creates a stronger barrier. The best time to apply is right after bathing, while skin is still slightly damp, to trap that moisture in the outer layer of skin.
For bathing, short sessions of 5 to 10 minutes in warm (not hot) water are generally recommended, followed immediately by moisturizer. If you have areas of significant inflammation, a technique called “soak and smear” can help: soak in plain water for about 20 minutes, then apply any prescribed anti-inflammatory treatment directly to wet skin without toweling dry first. This approach can improve the effectiveness of topical treatments that aren’t working well on their own.
When eczema is actively flaring, moisturizer alone usually isn’t enough. Prescription treatments like topical corticosteroids or calcineurin inhibitors are typically applied twice daily to inflamed areas. Once a flare clears, using these treatments just once or twice a week on spots that tend to relapse can help prevent the next flare from starting. Plain moisturizer fills the gaps between those applications.
The Bottom Line on A&D Ointment
A&D ointment isn’t dangerous for most people with eczema, and if it’s the only thick moisturizer you have on hand, using it is better than using nothing. But it’s not a product designed for eczema, and its ingredient profile creates unnecessary risks. The vitamins don’t help, the lanolin can sensitize already-reactive skin, and plain petrolatum does the same barrier job more safely. If you’re choosing what to keep in your medicine cabinet for eczema, a simple petrolatum-based product without fragrance or lanolin is a smarter pick.