People who suffer from eczema need to be careful in choosing skin care products. One product that needs attention is soap for eczema. This is because if you choose the wrong soap, eczema will actually be more often recurrent or become worse.
Eczema or atopic dermatitis is a skin disease characterized by the appearance of a red and very itchy rash, which can appear in one or several areas of the body, such as the face, neck, back, hands, elbow and knee folds, and scalp.
In addition to rashes and itching, eczema sufferers can also feel other symptoms, such as dry skin, thickened, cracked, scaly, and the appearance of small lumps and swelling when scratched. The skin is also susceptible to infection if it is scratched frequently.
Eczema can occur to anyone, whether babies, children, adolescents, adults, or the elderly. However, this condition most often occurs in toddlers.
The cause of eczema is not known with certainty. Even so, this disease is known to be closely related to allergies, heredity, irritation due to the use of harsh chemicals, temperature or weather, to stress.
How to Choose Soap for Eczema Sufferers
People with eczema need to choose soap for eczema that suits their skin condition. It aims to prevent the recurrence of eczema symptoms and avoid further skin damage.
When you want to choose soap for eczema, follow these tips:
1. Carefully read the contents listed on the soap label
Make sure the ingredients in the soap for eczema are gentle and do not risk causing irritation or allergies. Some ingredients that can cause irritation and allergies are detergent, antibacterial, and fragrance.
2. Look for soap products with a balanced pH
Normal skin acidity ranges from pH 4-7. Therefore, avoid soap containing strong acids or bases, so that the skin's normal pH is maintained. The acidity level outside the normal skin pH range can make the skin damaged and irritated, so the symptoms of eczema will be vulnerable to relapse.
3. Choose a color-free soap
The content of dyes in skin cleaning products risks causing irritation and allergies. Therefore, look for a soap that is free of coloring to avoid the recurrence of eczema symptoms.
4. Avoid soap made from irritants for eczema skin
The skin of eczema sufferers is different from normal skin. So, avoid soaps that contain irritative ingredients for eczema skin, such as AHAs, glycolic acid, salicylic acid, and sulfur or sulfur.
5. Choose soap made from safe for sensitive skin
You who have sensitive skin because eczema needs to use soap that is made from soft. Some ingredients that are soft and safe for sensitive skin are niacinamide, ceramide, hyaluronic acid, aloe vera, shea, and natural oils, such as coconut oil, glycerin, and lanolin. These ingredients tend not to irritate the skin and can help maintain skin moisture.
After you choose a particular soap product, you should do a trial first before using it. The trick is to apply a little soap on the wrist or elbow folds, then leave for several hours.
After that, pay attention to the area smeared with soap. If irritation or allergic reactions occur, such as redness, peeling, itching, and pain, do not use the product and choose other soap products.
In addition, skin tolerance to soap ingredients can change, depending on the condition of your skin. So, if symptoms of eczema appear after some time using certain soap products, stop using it immediately.
Bath Rules for Eczema Sufferers
Not only the selection of soap that you need to consider if you have eczema. You also need to understand the rules and the right bath to prevent the recurrence of eczema symptoms.
The following are the recommended bathing methods for people who have eczema.
- Take a shower with warm water and rub the soap gently throughout the body. Don't take too long a bath because it can worsen the condition of eczema. The recommended bath time is only 5-10 minutes.
- After bathing, gently wipe the towel or gently pat it all over the body. Try not to dry the skin completely. Leave the skin slightly moist so that the absorption of drugs and skin moisturizing products can be more effective.
- After drying the body with a towel, immediately apply medication for eczema. The choice of topical medication for eczema can be adjusted with doctor's recommendations and prescriptions.
- Continue by applying a moisturizer that suits your skin condition. Choose a moisturizer that contains ceramide, colloidal oatmeal, and petroleum, so that the skin is not dry and cracked.
- Before dressing, give the skin time to absorb the entire care product that is smeared
Research in choosing a soap that is safe for people with eczema and do the test yourself, because the reactions caused by each person is different.
In addition, it is also important to avoid using detergent cleaning clothes made from hard materials. This is because detergents on clothing can cause skin irritation and trigger recurrence of eczema symptoms.
If you find it difficult to choose soap for eczema or if the symptoms of eczema do not subside even after doing some of the tips above, do not hesitate to consult a dermatologist.
