Eczema is a skin condition that leaves patches of skin very itchy and inflamed. Sometimes eczema can leave blisters that crack and bleed due to the irritation. This usually appears on dry and irritated skin, but in some cases can occur when someone is too hot and sweaty. There are many causes that can trigger eczema such as scented soaps, scented lotions, scented laundry detergents, wool clothing, cold or hot weather, and even pet dander.
Many things can easily irritate this condition, including the following harsh soaps:
1. Soaps with strong fragrance
Strong fragrance soaps such as Caress, Bath & Body Works soaps, Irish Spring, Dior Joy and many others cause a serious itching sensation and dry out the skin. People with eczema should avoid as much as possible. The scented soaps tend to remove oils from the skin which leads to drying. People with eczema should look for fragrance-free products instead of unscented and also rinsing effectively every time to make sure all the soap is washed off to prevent drying out the skin. This is the most popular irritation and usually causes a rash.
2. Propylene glycol soaps
Soaps with propylene glycol such as Aveeno, SheaMoisture, and Lever 2000 should be avoided although it does not cause irritation to the skin. Propylene glycol has the ability to penetrate-enhancing humectant. This means it allows the skin to absorb just about anything leaving an entry to toxins that usually would not be able to pass through the skin.
3. Antibacterial soaps
Most antibacterial soaps such as Dove, SoftSoap, and Dial are not good for eczema because over washing the hands dries out the skin and causes irritation. Drying out the skin causes cracking and bleeding. This can also cause itching that leads to open sores.
4. Soaps with MCI and MI
Certain soaps containing methylchloroisothiazolinone MCI and methylisothiazolinone MI such as St. Ives, Dove, and Cetaphil can cause a flare up in eczema and atopic dermatitis. These body washes and lotions should be avoided even if unscented. They can dry out the skin and cause itching and blisters.
5. Cocamidopropyl soaps
Certain soaps with cocamidopropyl Betaine from coconut oil such as Aquaphor, Aveeno, and Ivory can cause irritation to people with eczema. This ingredient is also found in many other products such as make-up removers, shaving cream, contact lens cleansers, liquid body washes, and more. It is a fatty acid that is usually in foaming soaps and causes an allergic reaction especially for patients with eczema. It can dry out the skin and cause discomfort.
6. Soaps with botanical oils
There are many soaps with botanical oils such as Banyan, Babo, Botanical Butter Soap, AOS, and more. The botanical oils that are bad for eczema are tea tree oil, peppermint oil, jojoba oil, and coconut oil. These dry out the skin resulting in irritation and are known to cause this when heated and mixed with other compounds.
