It's possible that soap, shower gel or beauty product contains an irritant. Here's why, and why we only stock SLS free soaps and beauty products...
For many people when selecting which soap bar, shower gel or beauty product to use next the decision is often based on a multitude of factors, but not on what's inside. Despite suffering from dry skin and eczema for years I never considered checking the ingredients in the soaps and shower gels I used. Instead I trusted the brand and looked for those that advertised specific benefits such as this Sanex Dry Skin Shower Gel.
For anyone looking for a shower gel or soap for dry skin you would expect products like this would greatly reduce your symptoms, as did I. Unfortunately it didn't, it made them worse, and that's despite their website stating their 'shower gels and bath foams have fewer chemical ingredients and mild, biodegradable formulations containing moisturisers of 100% natural origin.' Sounds impressive doesn't it? Well, after water, the other primary ingredient in this product is Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLS), and guess what the primary ingredient after water is in Fairy Washing Up Liquid?
Yep, you guessed it, Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLS). You will not always know this due to labeling guidelines. Instead you'll just see it contains 15-30% Anionic Surfactants, as this is what SLSis classified as.
So what I washed myself with is actually what I washed my greasy dishes with, and upon digging further Sodium Laureth Sulfate can be found in oven cleaner, floor cleaner, in fact quite a lot of products you will use around your home. It is even present in commercial cleaning products. Confusing isn't it? How can shower gels or soaps for dry skin that contain this actually benefit you. Well my answer now would be, they don't. As a result I now never use any soap, shower gel or other beauty product that contains SLS. What's worse is now Fairy washing up liquid has to carry an irritant label like this one.
Why would I use any soap, shower gel or beauty product that is mostly made from an ingredient that can irritate my skin, especially when I have eczema and dry skin?
Quite simply now that I know, I wont, and that's exactly why we only stock SLS free soap bars and SLS free beauty products.
If like me you suffer from dry skin, eczema or any other troubled skin condition, since I replaced the products I use, especially soaps and shower gels, to SLS free soaps and shower gels, the itching and scratching has stopped. In fact its fair to say I am a lot less irritated!