Best Soaps for Eczema - by Evie Potter

Best Soaps for Eczema - by Evie Potter

The skin looses water and natural oils, and this can leave the skin extremely dry and can lead to cracking and flaking. Although you might think that water would be good for dry skin, as it moistens it, the reverse is true as the drying process draws moisture from the skin, leaving it dryer than before. In addition to this hot water can lead to a loss of natural oils in the skin, leading to further drying out. There are ways of reducing the impact of this drying effect such as softly padding the skin dry instead of vigorously rubbing, and moisturizing soon after drying, and there are plenty of places to find advice on dealing with eczema. The type of soap that you use can also play an important role in moisture retention and overall skin health.

Suggested Best Soaps for Eczema:

Goat's Milk Soap
Goat and Coconut Milk
Goat's Milk and Organic Blossom Honey 
Oatmeal - Mango Butter Soap
Brazilian Oil Soap

 

Natural Handmade Soap Basics

Before going into any details in which soaps are the best ones for your particular skin, or which ones come most recommended by users, it is important to establish a very basic understanding of the difference between most mainstream soaps that you buy in the supermarket, and the kind of soaps that are going to help you out best. Chemical additives are best avoided at all costs as these are harmful to sensitive skin and can cause you all sorts of problems.

You may think that a nice smelling soap from one of the mainstream brands has to be the best soap available, but this is simply a marketing myth. Look at the ingredients on the soap, and if it has perfumes or harsh chemical ingredients in it, leave it on the shelf as it is likely to cause more irritation than good. These chemicals do not react well with damaged skin, and on eczema patches the chemicals will be getting underneath the top layers of skin and causing irritation and damage.

Natural Artisan Soaps

Natural soaps are definitely the way forward when it comes to finding an eczema friendly way to wash., and as a general rule, the less ingredients the better. Here are some of the best natural soaps for eczema: Oatmeal ?

One of the best natural ingredients for your skin is oatmeal, and a bar of oatmeal soap comes highly recommended for those with eczema. The oatmeal has numerous properties which are especially beneficial for damaged skin. Oats become gelatinous in water due to the high concentration of polysaccharides in them, and this leaves a protective layer on the skin.

They also contain many natural fats, which help to moisturize the skin naturally, and the proteins help to mend the skins natural barrier, keeping moisture in and unwanted chemicals out. As well as all of this, they contain saponins which help to clean out the pores, leaving you clean and fresh. Coconut Oil ?

This is an excellent natural moisturizer, and a coconut oil soap bar can leave your skin feeling softer and smoother than ever before. Unlike many other oils, coconut oil is not greasy and it can actually be absorbed by the skin extremely well without clogging the pores. Some people use it in soap whilst others simply rub it straight onto their skin after washing. Shea Butter ?

This is yet another natural ingredient that has incredible healing and moisturizing properties, and a natural soap containing this ingredient is ideal for those with eczema. It is renowned for healing dry and cracked skin, as well as leaving a protective layer than can fight the affects of sun, ageing, and harsh weather conditions. If your skin problems flare up during the cold wet winter months, shea butter soap will be a good addition to your bathroom. There are plenty more natural ingredients to look out for when purchasing soap for eczema, and some of these include almond oil, aloe vera, chamomile, and even apple cider vinegar.

Keeping Psoriasis Under Control The Natural Way

Psoriasis is a condition brought on by a problem with the immune system that leads to the body mistaking ordinary skin cells for pathogens, which in turn leads to the overproduction of skin cells. "Our Natural, Artisan, Handmade Acne Soaps .The condition is relatively common to varying degrees, and whilst in it not something that can be completely cured, its effects can be controlled through lifestyle alterations, and a good skincare regime.

Certain soaps and beauty products have been known to cause inflammation of the symptoms, whilst others can soothe the skin and keep the condition under control. The skin is the largest organ in the body, and it is a living, breathing entity which comes soaks in and reacts to its external environment, so must be cared for accordingly. Once you understand how and why psoriasis reacts the way it does to certain circumstances and substances, you will be better equipped to deal with it Stress.

As with many bodily conditions, stress can cause the symptoms to flare up, and an ongoing stressful lifestyle can make psoriasis very difficult to deal with. In essence, it is just as important for you to reduce stress levels in your day to day life as it is to treat the condition directly.

Buying specialist treatments and beauty products to combat the symptoms of psoriasis is largely counterproductive if your stress levels are continuously high as the physical reaction that stress brings to the body will be stronger than the effects of any treatments. When our bodies become stressed, the immune system is put under a large amount of extra pressure, and even people without any existing medical conditions can develop problems as a result.

 

Importance of Using Natural Soaps Once you have done all you can to make your lifestyle as easy going on the immune system as possible, it is time to look at the products you put onto your skin, the most important one being the soap you wash with. Many commercial treatments and soaps are full of chemicals and other ingredients which irritate and inflame sensitive skin, and this means that if you have psoriasis, you could be worsening the condition by using the wrong types of soaps. One of the primary things that causes irritation is perfumed or scented soap ingredients and these should be avoided at all costs. If you are purchasing ?commercial soaps? then try to go for ones with the least amount of ingredients on them, and definitely unscented ones. The best option however is to purchase natural soaps which only contain natural raw ingredients as these do not irritate the skin in the same way as chemical soaps.

Pine Tar Soap Pine tar soap is one of the most commonly used natural soaps for those suffering from psoriasis, and although its results are widely known about, there is little scientific knowledge about exactly why it works so well. It works best for those with chronic plaque psoriasis, which is most often seen on the lower back as well as the knee and elbow joints.

There are numerous different pine tar soap manufacturers, most of whom use completely natural remedies, meaning that it will be a great natural way of treating the skin. It is advisable that caution is taken when using the soap prior to going out in the direct sunlight during summer as it can make the skin more sensitive to UV rays. In rare cases it has been known to irritate some skin types so it is advisable to test it on a small patch of skin before using on your entire body.

Herbal Soaps Herbs are the world?s great natural healers and they have been used by cultures from all around the world for thousands of years to treat various conditions. Three herbs that are particularly effective at combating the effects of psoriasis are aloe vera, comfrey and Oregon grape root, and these can be used in conjunction with natural soap bases to make herbal soaps. You can make your own, or purchase from specialist soap makers who make these types of natural soaps. Aloe vera is soothing for the skin  and it helps to create a healing barrier on the surface of the skin as well as providing around 30% protection from the sun. Comfrey acts as a natural skin healer, and Oregon grape root has antiseptic and anti-inflammatory effects.

Suggested Natural Brazilian Soaps

Rain Forest Soap
Copaiba Coconut Milk
Brazilian Oil Soap