Eczema, also known atopic dermatitis, is a skin condition that can cause the skin to become red, itchy, inflamed due to certain triggers. Causes are unknown. Eczema is one of the most common forms of atopic dermatitis. Eczema can affect any part of the body and appear anywhere on the skin. Symptoms of eczema are rashes, dryness, bumps, peeling, and redness of the skin.
Most of the time a person with eczema will have it on the most common areas of their body, notably the hands, feet, behind the knees. Not everyone will experience eczema in the same way. The biggest trigger is dry skin. Other triggers can be cigarette smoke, soaps, household cleaners with certain chemicals. Here are the soaps to avoid and the ingredients they contain:
1. Soaps with coconut oil
For some people with eczema, coconut oil can be safe to use and help treat eczema symptoms, but for others who have eczema, it may not be a good choice because they may be allergic to coconut oil which will make their symptoms worse. An example of a soap with coconut oil is Softsoap Body Wash.
2. Propylene glycol
This ingredient is in many of the skin care products that are on the market. Products such as, cosmetics, medications, food, and some topical eczema treatments. An example of soap with this ingredient a person with eczema should stay away from is Dial.
3. Methylisothiazolinone (MI & MCI)
These preservatives are found in cosmetics and some soaps. Using products with these preservatives will increase the number of break-outs a person with eczema could experience. It is important to read the labels before making a purchase for the kinds of ingredients that the product might have to avoid a break-out.
4. Antibacterial soaps
The reason these soaps are harmful is that they have chemicals that are harmful to the skin for people with this disease. Irish Spring Soap is in this category would be a soap that would be harmful.
5. Fragrance soaps
Fragrance soaps contain dye and perfumes that can create allergens for people who have eczema. An example of a soap to avoid in this category would be Yardley London Natural.
The causes for eczema are unknown. It is recommended for people who have eczema to take extra care to read labels and when it comes to bathing moisturizing the skin. People with eczema lack water in their skin and moisturizing the skin on a daily basis can help keep water in the skin to keep it moist. Eczema is not contagious, but can be caused by a variety of factors and is usually hereditary.
When it comes to bathing and showering, not all soaps are created equal. There are soaps on the market that are made with fragrances, propylene glycol, botanical oil, coconut oils, soaps, and cosmetics made with a preservative called Methylisothiazolinone (MI and MCI). These ingredients and preservatives can cause a person with eczema to have frequent symptom flare ups if they come into contact with products that contain these ingredients.
