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Disclaimer: This post is intended to provide information about how to use Dr. Bronner’s soap for eczema but is not medical advice or a substitute for medical care or advice provided by a physician or licensed medical provider.
If you or a loved one suffer from eczema, then you know it can be a terrible condition. In this guide, we’ll cover two approaches to using Castile soap for eczema relief. While eczema refers to a spectrum of skin disorders, this post will be focusing on the type known as atopic dermatitis.
Table of Contents
- What Causes Eczema/Atopic Dermatitis?
- Strategy 1: Use a Moisturizing Soap to Treat Eczema
- Why to Use Castile Soap or True Soap for Eczema Instead of Synthetic Cleansers
What Causes Eczema/Atopic Dermatitis?
Eczema or atopic dermatitis usually begins in infancy or childhood. It often clears up with age, though for many sufferers it continues into adulthood. As with many skin issues, the underlying causes are not well understood. Some recent research has pointed to genetic factors that may impair the functioning of the skin barrier and allow more allergens and pathogens to penetrate the body—this in turn can lead to an overactive immune response and inflammation. At the same time, the lack of an effective skin barrier means the skin cannot as easily retain moisture, which can lead to drier skin that exacerbates the inflammation [1].
When skin develops red rashes and is intolerably itchy, it’s hard not to scratch the itch, which leads to what some call the “itch-scratch cycle,” as scratching only worsens the condition. With repeated scratching, sufferers can develop tough, scaly skin that exacerbates the itch. Many treatment plans involve managing the symptoms to reduce itchiness, hopefully breaking the itch-scratch cycle.
Also, several factors that can make symptoms worse have been identified, such aschemical irritants you find in home and body care products, stress, allergens, and hormonal fluctuations.
Two Strategies to Treat Eczema Using Dr. Bronner’s Soap for Eczema
There are two main strategies to combat eczema using Dr. Bronner’s products:
- Using a moisturizing soap
- Soak and seal to lock in moisture
Use a Moisturizing Soap to Treat Eczema
Dry skin goes hand in hand with atopic dermatitis. When the skin barrier is damaged, it’s tougher for the skin to retain moisture. It’s important to select a soap that will help your skin keep all the moisture it can. Our most moisturizing soap is ourOrganic Shaving Soap, which has loads of added organic sugar that helps your skin lock in moisture. Our next most moisturizing soap isOrganic Sugar Soap, which also has a good deal of added organic sugar. Finally, our Castile bar soapsare also a good option to try, as they are superfatted, meaning some of the oils are added after saponification, and are a bit more moisturizing than our Liquid Pure-Castile soaps. We recommend always using the unscented variety if you have sensitive skin.
It is important to avoid overly hot or overly cold water. Try to bathe and wash with lukewarm water whenever possible. If you’re used to taking long, hot showers, this recommendation can come as a bummer, but we think moderate temperature can help prevent your skin from drying out. Hot water can strip your skin of the natural oils that help keep moisture in. Since atopic dermatitis already impairs the skin barrier, this will only make the problem worse. If you must take a hot shower, make it as short as possible. Avoid scrubbing your skin with a washcloth or loofah.
Soak and Seal: Moisturize Right After Bathing to Lock in Moisture
When you step out of the shower or bath, pat yourself gently to dry (no scrubbing with your towel). Begin moisturizing within three minutes, as you want to try to provide a seal that supplements your skin barrier and serves to lock in the moisture. OurUnscented Organic Magic Balmis ideal for this purpose. Made with organic beeswax and organic avocado, jojoba, coconut, olive, and hemp oils, it will both soothe inflamed skin and provide an oily barrier to seal in moisture.
Apply the Unscented Organic Magic Balm as often as you need and focus on the spots where your skin feels driest. Make sure to apply the balm on any areas that are red or irritated. We have heard from many customers who have had success treating eczema symptoms with our Unscented Organic Magic Balm, so we encourage you to give it a try, too.
Another option for moisturizing is to use ourRegenerative Organic Coconut Oil. This is somewhat thinner and lighter than our Organic Magic Balm, but it nevertheless has excellent moisturization qualities. There have been some clinical trialsshowing the effectiveness ofcoconut oil for treating symptoms of atopic dermatitis. Finally, ourOrganic Lotionsare also excellent moisturizers, though we don't currently offer an unscented variety.
Why It’s Important to Use a Castile or “True” Soap for Eczema Instead of Synthetic Skin Cleansers
One recommendation you will see for eczema/atopic dermatitis is to avoid soap all together and instead use a synthetic cleanser that is formulated for sensitive skin. The thinking behind this recommendation is that true soaps are somehow not mild enough and risk disturbing the skin's outermost layer, the stratum corneum. Here are a few points to consider when trying to decide between Dr. Bronner’s soap for eczema and a synthetic cleanser.
- Castile soaps consist of ingredients sourced from nature such as plants. These types of soaps are commonly recognized as "true soaps," mainly comprised of fatty acid alkali salts. In contrast, many commercial soaps and body washes found in most personal care sections typically incorporate chemicals that can be detrimental to both our bodies and the environment.
- Dr. Bronner’s is a mild soap, and the pH of a cleanser does not impact skin health, as explainedLisa Bronner’sarticleSkin Health, pH, and Dr. Bronner’s Soap,a must-read if you want to understand the science behind these issues.
- Chemical irritants can sometimes make eczema worse. Some of the surfactants in synthetic cleansers, like Cocoamidopropyl Betaine or PEG-40 Stereate, can cause skin irritation for some people. Make sure to read the ingredient lists and note which ingredients work for you and which ones don’t [2].
- Many synthetic detergents contain additional compounds that act as occlusives, humectants, or emollients—all with the aim of keeping your skin moisturized. Dr. Bronner’s Pure-Castile Bar Soaps have organic oils and other ingredients that serve these functions: jojoba oil acts as an occlusive, glycerin is a humectant, and hemp oil is an emollient (our liquid soaps also have these ingredients, but jojoba oil and hemp oil are saponified in our liquid soaps, while they are superfatted in our bar soaps). Sugar acts as a humectant in our Organic Sugar Soaps and Organic Shaving Soaps.
- If our Liquid Pure-Castile Soap is too drying, try one of our more moisturizing soaps, such as the Organic Sugar Soap or Pure-Castile Bar Soap.
Ultimately your choice of cleanser is a personal one, and you have to find the products that work for you. Our point here is simply that a gentle, high quality natural soap may work just as well for washing sensitive skin and treating eczema symptoms as a synthetic cleanser.
