Why ordinary soap backfires
Traditional bar soaps are alkaline and effective at stripping oils — great for greasy dishes, bad for a fragile skin barrier. Studies show washing with alkaline soap can damage the barrier, leaving skin drier and more irritated. On eczema skin, that's the opposite of what you want.
The one word to look for: soap-free (syndet)
Dermatologists generally favor soap-free cleansers — often labeled ‘syndet’ (synthetic detergent) or ‘soap substitute.’ They clean gently at a skin-friendly, lower pH without stripping the barrier the way true soap does. If you change one thing after reading this, make it swapping bar soap for a gentle soap-free cleanser.
What to look for on the label
- “Soap-free” / syndet, and a low / skin-friendly pH.
- Fragrance-free — fragrance blends can hide hundreds of chemicals; this matters more than most ‘active’ claims.
- Barrier-friendly extras like glycerin, ceramides, or petrolatum that help the skin hold moisture (the same ingredients as good moisturizers — see decoding moisturizers).
What to avoid
- Fragrance and dyes, and essential oils / botanical extracts — ‘natural’ does not mean non-irritating.
- Harsh surfactants like SLS (sodium lauryl sulfate), a well-studied irritant.
- Anything that foams aggressively or leaves the skin feeling squeaky — that squeak is stripped skin.
The freeing truth: use less
Here's what saves money and skin: your child doesn't need cleanser everywhere. Dermatologists advise using a mild, fragrance-free cleanser only on the dirty or smelly parts (hands, feet, diaper area, underarms), and letting plain water do the rest — plain water is gentle and effective for ordinary cleansing. Less product, less stripping, less irritation. And whatever you wash with, the golden rule holds: moisturize right after (see bathing and moisturizing).
To filter products you can trust, the National Eczema Association's Seal of Acceptance screens out common irritants — a better shortcut than brand claims.
Find the wash your child actually tolerates
Switching cleansers? Note it in Ollowen and watch how the skin responds over the next couple of weeks — so you keep what's gentle and drop what stings.
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Sources
- Global Parents for Eczema Research. Research-based tips for washing your child with eczema.
- Cardona ID, et al. Bathing in Atopic Dermatitis in Pediatric Age: Why, How and When. 2024.
- National Eczema Association. Seal of Acceptance product directory.
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