What types of soap are best for children with eczema or atopic dermatitis?
There is no one agreed upon best kind of soap or skin cleanser for eczema or atopic dermatitis sufferers. An individual with eczema should avoid harsh detergents or drying soaps. Our skin is actually not as alkaline as most soaps. Our skin’s normal pH is about 4 to 5, whereas the average pH of soap is 9 to 10. Soap increases the pH of our skin to a non-physiologic pH that can worsen eczema or atopic dermatitis. Instead, a mild non-soap skin cleanser is generally best. Non-soap skin cleansers are free of sodium laurel sulfate which can aggravate eczema or atopic dermatitis. Examples of non-soap skin cleansers include Dove® Sensitive Skin Unscented Beauty Bar, Aquaphor® Gentle Wash, AVEENO® Advanced Care Wash, Basis® Sensitive Skin Bar, CeraVe™ Hydrating Cleanser, and Cetaphil® Gentle Cleansing Bar. When bathing, wash needed areas only. Avoid using anything in the shower or bath that will abrade the skin, such as a washcloth, sponge, or loofah. And after bathing, pat skin dry rather than
