Atopic dermatitis

[vergil96]

I have developed atopic dermatitis (aka allergy to soap) recently and by accident discovered that showers are much easier and more pleasant when using a hypoallergic shower gel.

Do others here have this condition? Do you have any hacks?

 

[Outdated]

I've always used a glycerine based soap, most soaps are made from animal fat.

I also don't wash my hair very often, shampoo always triggers bad dandruff but that's not what really bothers me, I can't stand the smell of commercial perfumes.

 

[the_tortoise]

Do others here have this condition? Do you have any hacks?

Yes, have since infancy. Have to always have steroid cream on hand and my last doctor actually had a compounding pharmacy make it. My joke is "my body hates everything".

If something is going to touch my body, it has to be completely unscented with very, very few exceptions. The exceptions are a handful of specific (but not all) essential oils. This means also deodorant/antiperspirant, laundry soap, fabric softener, dryer sheets, dish washing soap for handwashing dishes, moisturizing creams, medicament-type creams and ointments, too -- not just whatever I use to wash my skin.

I always read labels -- always.

(I even react to a number of unscented and "hypoallergenic things" -- my dad's wife once mocked me as a hypochondriac for this but doctors don't - there are an insane number of chemicals used for various reasons that one can be sensitized to in most soaps and body washes and other personal and household hygiene products; And "hypoallergenic" means "low allergy" not "no allergy")

Even if something says "hypoallergenic" it may contain mystery "parfum" or "fragrance" or another additive that triggers my eczema. (And I do know there is also irritant contact dermatitis -for all I know I have both, but doctors have only ever called
it allergic or "atopic" and have identified allergies so I assume that's usually if not always what it is). I have even seen soaps labelled "no fragrance" with "light scent" on the ingredients list - it's ridiculous.

if a soap/body wash does not even list the ingredients I will not even try it. Not even if it says "hypoallergenic" and "unscented". Not worth wasted money and potentially days of discomfort.

At this point I just use castille soap, usually
unscented, with vegetable oils as the fat.

 

[vergil96]

I like parfumes, unfortunately.

I've always used a glycerine based soap

Me too and mostly gel, not soap bars

shampoo always triggers bad dandruff

normal shampoosfor me too, I have been using the hypoallergic ones for years

 

[Mary Terry]

I get eczema when I eat eggs but I have a lot of skin allergies. I use CeraVe foaming face wash, moisturizing cream and nighttime face cream, Dove bath soap for sensitive skin and L'Oreal non-sulfate shampoo. I'm allergic to almost every kind of topical consumer stuff and topical medication in existence and to adhesives in band aids so I make my own with sterile gauze and paper tape.

 

[Yeshuasdaughter]

I have a lot of allergies to different soaps.

But it's not soap I'm allergic to. It's harsh detergents that I am allergic to.

Dove and Irish Spring are the absolute worst for my sensitive skin.

You see, most of what is marketed as soap is actually chemical and petroleum based detergent. Detergent is usually harsh and caustic. Even in soaps, and many people are allergic to detergents because of this.

Soap is made from fat and an alkali salt, usually lye. Lye is caustic, but when used in soapmaking, it breaks down the fat molecules in a process called "saponification". The saponified molecules of fat are both hydrophilic (meaning at first they draw water to them), and also hydrophobic (meaning after they draw water initially, they next repel water and attract fat and grime).

Natural soaps with shea, olive oil, goats milk, cocoa butter, etc are absolutely lovely.

Look for a natural soap with a short list of ingredients.

A couple of really real nice soaps for sensitive skin are those with added colloidal oatmeal or charcoal. Those are specifically made for people with eczema or psoriasis.

It's also important that soap doesn't dry out your skin. Make sure that it's moisturizing.

My favorite brand of soap is "One With Nature". It is incredibly moisturizing without being greasy. It leaves your skin so soft. And rather than harsh, headache inducing perfumes, they use just the right dot of essential oils. I like the chamomile or the lilac scented soaps best.

For commercial detergent style soaps, the only ones I can use without getting itchy are Ivory or Aveeno.