Eczema is a skin condition commonly referred to as atopic dermatitis. It causes non-contagious red itchy patches of skin which sometimes become rough and scaly. More severe cases can produce blisters on the skin. Upwards of 31 million Americans suffer from eczema. The condition is found more commonly in infants and young children but can occur in adults or continue from childhood into adulthood.
There are many symptoms, causes and triggers for eczema which include different types of soaps and other damaging substances. Anyone who has experienced eczema recognizes that knowing the triggers can help avoid or alleviate the symptoms. There are many things that can trigger eczema misery. These include the following soap ingredients:
1. Soaps with cocamidopropyl betaine
Soaps containing cocamidopropyl betaine, which is derived from coconut oil, can cause burning and serious skin reactions including blistering. Anyone with eczema will want to steer clear of products with this ingredient.
2. Soaps with propylene glycol
Propylene glycol is a derivative of a gas that is odorless and colorless and helps to provide moisture to the skin. It is also utilized to absorb moisture in formulas to reduce the growth of bacteria in those formulas. It is also found in many snack foods and personal care products. Even when found in diluted forms it can still cause problems for persons with eczema.
3. Antibacterial soaps
Because of ingredients, such as alcohol, found in fragranced and antibacterial soaps these can trigger eczema. With COVID concerns and constant hand washing and sanitizing it can be a task to find the right soap if you suffer from eczema. Using a soap with reduced amounts of alcohol and more aloe, for example, could be the answer.
4. Methylchloroisothiazolinone and Methylisothiazolinone
One of the many things that can trigger eczema is soaps containing methylchloroisothiazolinone (or MCI) and methylisothiazolinone (or MI). These irritants can be found in makeup products, shampoos, detergents, and body washes making it important before buying and using these items to assure it is safe for eczema sufferers. MI is currently thought to be a major eczema trigger. Good substitutes are products that contain parabens instead of MI and MCI substances.
5. Soaps with botanical oils
Many soaps and additives can trigger eczema making it refreshing to know there are some natural remedies that can ease symptoms. There are certain soaps with botanical oils that can soothe rough itchy skin. Oils such as jojoba and geranium oil may help with symptoms of eczema.
To diagnose and treat eczema it is important to recognize the symptoms. Symptoms in infants include rashes on the cheeks and the scalp. These might leak fluid and cause extreme itchiness and might even interfere with the child’s sleep patterns. Symptoms in older children may appear differently. Rashes might be found on elbows or knees and are sometimes darker in color than in infants. There may also be hardening skin or lichenification. This causes the skin to become thick possibly due to rubbing or scratching the area.
The skin symptoms in adults with eczema are usually more scaley then in infants and children. There will be very dry skin patches and the rash is permanently itchy. These patches might be found over the whole body with some areas of the body becoming infected.
