If you’re considering what type of body wash to use on your child, one fact to consider: over 31 million Americans have eczema. Eczema is a chronic irritation and inflammation of the skin with flare-ups happening at any time of the day.
Eczema looks and feels like dry and itchy patches and can be quite uncomfortable without proper corrective measures. As a parent, it’s difficult to see any of your family affected by this skin condition, and it’s important to know common household items and personal care products that can trigger it. Treatment can include lifestyle modification, medication, and skincare regimens.
With the help of your dermatologist, you can reduce inflammation, relieve symptoms, and prevent eczema flare-ups with the right body wash and skin care regimen. Unfortunately, not all skincare products are made equal, especially body wash. Some may even cause more irritation on the skin.
How Does Eczema Manifest and What Are the Triggers?
There is strong evidence that suggests eczema is rooted in genetics, environmental factors, immune system imbalance, stress, or a combination of these.
The National Eczema Association (NEA) says atopic dermatitis is the most common form of eczema. When our body and irritants in the environment interact, the body overreacts and produces inflammation to fight the foreign body and heal the skin.
Another form of eczema is contact dermatitis. It is caused by touching specific things, like chemical products, cleaning products, and personal hygiene products like body wash.
What Happens to My Skin When I Have Eczema?
Eczema causes damage to your skin barrier functions and lipid layers, which increases your sensitivity to irritants and allergens that can be present in body wash. When it comes to skin in general, we want to achieve stratum corneum homeostasis, which means both layers of the epidermis and dermis are properly functioning.
If you're overshowering or using body wash with harsh ingredients, you can disrupt the skin barrier and further irritate your skin. Maintaining stratum corneum homeostasis with eczema and other skin sensitivities can be difficult, but one good place to start is by using gentle, natural shower products that won’t disrupt the balance of your skin or wear down your skin barrier functions.
What Key Ingredients in a Body Wash Are Good for Eczema?
If you’re looking for a gentle, soothing body wash for eczema that will protect your lipid layers and keep your skin barrier intact, keep an eye out for natural, plant based ingredients that will boost your skin’s moisturization when it needs it the most.
Colloidal Oatmeal
Colloidal oatmeal is ground oatmeal that serves to protect your skin. It’s a perfect ingredient in your body care product for people with dry to very dry skin types. Puracy products use Avena sativa, known as oatmeal extract, which is a gentle abrasive and a great dermal moisturizer for dry skin.
Ceramides
Ceramides are fatty acids found in skin cells. With skincare products, ceramides strengthen the integrity of the skin and hold hydration.
Glycerin
The power of glycerin is in retaining moisture in the skin to prevent dryness and irritation. At Puracy, we use a coconut-derived version called Vegetable Glycerin that keeps skin soft and supple. In our Natural Body Wash, this ingredient keeps skin moisturized and provides essential nutrients.
Shea Butter
Shea butter is derived from the fat of shea tree nuts. It acts as a moisturizing ingredient in your skincare product. Our Organic Baby Lotion features shea butter to infuse skin with Vitamin E, as well as soften it and lock-in moisture.
Hyaluronic Acid
Helps to attract water molecules to prevent dryness. It’s naturally found in your eyes and joints, which means its material can help skin stretch and flex to reduce wrinkles. You find this ingredient in the form of aloe vera in Puracy products, which moisturizes skin and binds moisture to the epidermis using skin-softening amino acids.
What Body Wash Ingredients Cause Eczema Flare-Ups?
Some skincare and hygiene products like body washes with harsh, caustic ingredients or synthetic fragrances cause skin flare-ups.
Certain formulations can be harsher than others. This may be due to fragrances and preservatives, which can strip away the moisture of your skin and disrupt its functions. When the natural oils in the skin are less, the skin becomes less resistant to allergens and irritants.
There are detergents in body wash and harsh soaps that can cause flare-ups like sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) or sodium laureth sulfate (SLES). These sulfates dry and strip the skin of its natural oils.
Some hygiene and body care products also include alcohols, which can aggravate the dry and sensitive skin conditions of someone with eczema.
Look for products that are fragrance-free, paraben-free, and hypoallergenic. These are gentle on the skin and are less likely to irritate.
A Healthy Body Care Regimen for Teens and Adults With Eczema
Here is a good way to start a healthy body care regimen for teens and young adults who experience rashes or other skin sensitivities.
Use a Gentle Body Wash for Eczema
The best body washes for people with sensitive skin contain natural products with rich and hydrating properties. Puracy’s Natural Body Wash gives a gentle, plant-based cleansing with fresh natural scents of coconut, vanilla, citrus, and sea salt. Find out how you can use the body wash to maintain healthy, nourished skin.2
Take Warm and Not Hot Baths
Hot water may feel nice at the beginning because it may stop itching for a moment, but it will irritate. Take a shower with warm or lukewarm water instead. The NEA highly recommends soaking in a bath and moisturizing right after to replace lost moisture in the body.
Pat Your Skin Dry Instead of a Wiping Motion
People with eczema have highly sensitive skin. The material of most towels can be harsh on the skin. A patting motion is enough to absorb the water and dry up your body right after a good bath. Want to truly pamper your skin? Use a microfiber towel to absorb wetness without drying out skin.
Apply Lotion
Get a lotion with a combination of any of the following: colloidal oatmeal, ceramides, glycerin, and hyaluronic acid. These will help shield your skin while moisturizing it. It’s best to apply lotion right after patting dry your skin from a bath. Our Organic Lotion features a natural, plant-based formula that protects even the most sensitive skin, including eczema, cradle cap, and more.
Apply Moisturizer
There are parts of the body, which require additional moisturizer. These include the face, neck, arms, and hands where rashes or dry skin may flare up easily. Apply moisturizer in these parts day and night, especially during cold months when your skin is more susceptible to drying out.
Avoid Triggers
Talk to your dermatologist to help you determine your triggers. These professionals are trained in determining triggers. You can also try wearing loose-fitting clothes and those made of cotton. If you have sensitive skin or allergies, check out our Cleaning Tips for Avoiding Common Allergens in Your Home.
Manage Stress Factors
You cannot get rid of stress but you can help manage it. With a balanced diet and an active lifestyle, you will be able to better manage your stress response.
By following this daily body care regimen, you can help keep your skin healthy and prevent flare-ups. Remember to consult with your healthcare provider or dermatologist for personalized recommendations on managing your sensitive skin.
Frequently Asked Questions About Body Wash and Eczema
Here are frequently asked questions about using body wash when you or your family has eczema.
- Can using a body wash aggravate rash or dry skin?
Yes, using certain body washes with harsh ingredients can aggravate the skin in sensitive areas. Look for a body wash that does not disrupt the pH balance of your skin.
- What body wash is best for my skin type?
Skin with eczema can be highly sensitive. Avoid a body wash with sulfates and parabens. Along with a body wash, try not to use a non-abrasive technique when bathing.
- Fragrance-free vs hypoallergenic body wash: what’s the difference?
Natural, fragrance-free body washes are products that do not contain any added fragrances or synthetic perfumes. Fragrances are a common irritant for people with sensitive skin and can cause itching, redness, and other allergic reactions.
Hypoallergenic body washes are products that are formulated to minimize the risk of allergic reactions. Hypoallergenic body washes may still contain fragrances, but they are typically formulated with milder ingredients that are less likely to cause an allergic reaction.
- What is the impact of hard water on eczema and body wash?
Hard water is water that contains high levels of dissolved minerals, such as calcium and magnesium. When hard water is used for bathing or washing, it can have several negative impacts on the skin.
You can use a water softener or filter to remove excess minerals from their tap water. In addition, using a body wash that is formulated for dry, sensitive skin can help to hydrate and soothe the skin.
- How can I properly exfoliate my skin with rash or dry skin safely using body wash?
If you want to exfoliate, use a gentle exfoliating body wash. Gentle exfoliants can be finely ground oatmeal, sugar, or salt. Avoid body washes that contain harsh scrubbing agents, such as microbeads or apricot kernels, as these can cause micro-tears in the skin and exacerbate eczema symptoms.
Fight Eczema Naturally with Puracy
Eczema can begin as early as childhood or can come late into adulthood. You can help manage sensitive skin and prevent future flare-ups with natural and plant-based body care solutions that Puracy provides.
Our Natural Body Wash alleviates and soothes dry skin with its plant-based formula of coconut cleansers and clinical-grade moisturizers. It's gentle enough to be used on babies, thanks to its hypoallergenic, pH-balanced formula. And the best part? Our Body Wash is great for fighting and managing eczema because it’s been developed by doctors with 99.96% ingredients sourced from nature.
