Dry Skin And Eczema Require Skin-friendly Soaps

Dry Skin And Require Skin-friendly Soaps
By Gloria MacTaggart

Soaps are notorious for causing skin problems. The first
recommendation for anyone with dry skin, eczema, acne,
psoriasis, rosacea or just about any other skin problem is
usually to avoid soap as much as possible and to ensure that
whatever soap you do use is mild. The truth is: all soaps dry
the skin somewhat and, no matter how mild the soap may be, you
need the protection of a dry skin and treatment product
that will not wash off when you wash - for which thousands of
doctors now recommend a shielding lotion. However, some soaps do
cause less damage than others and you should know how to
recognize them.

Here are the parameters:

* One of the most important factors is the pH level. Look for a
pH of about 4 - 6: Skin has a more acid pH than the rest of the
body to help neutralize bacteria. The packaging will either
display the pH level or will say "pH balanced" - which means it
has been balanced specifically for the skin. If the information
is not displayed on the package, try checking on the Internet.
The correct pH level is vital for soaps, as well as any other
dry skin or treatment you use.

* Buy soaps that are unscented. Some substances used as
fragrance are highly irritating and are common allergens.
Unfortunately, manufacturers don't usually display the details
on the packaging - they're more likely to simply list
'fragrance' as an ingredient - so it's best to stick with
unscented varieties.

* Stay away from antibacterial soaps. Problem skin is more
susceptible to infection than healthy skin, so it's logical to
think that an antibacterial soap would be effective as dry skin
and treatment. However, nothing could be further from the
truth: anti-bacterial soaps usually contain triclosan, a
chemical that is toxic to our bodies and the environment. Not
only does the EPA list Triclosan as a toxic pesticide, giving it
the highest scores regarding risk to human health and the
environment, the manufacturing process of Triclosan is suspected
of producing dioxin - the hormone-disrupting chemical in Agent
Orange, widely used

in chemical warfare during the Vietnam War.
Agent Orange scorched 25 percent of Vietnam's forests, increased
the risk of death from cancer to 30 percent for those exposed to
it, and produced an estimated 50,000 deformed children of
parents who were either directly sprayed with it or exposed to
it through contaminated food or water. Today, 30 years later,
three million Vietnamese and tens of thousands of U.S soldiers
still suffer the effects.

* Look for natural ingredients rather than simply a huge list
of chemicals and nothing else. Look for substances like aloe
vera, sea buckthorn oil and others that are known to have
healing properties and read up on the chemicals in the list.

The second recommendation for dry skin or treatment is
usually to keep the skin slathered with moisturizers. The truth
is, most moisturizers are worse than soap: effective dry skin
and treatment requires that you retain moisture and
protect the skin from chemicals and other irritants. Traditional
moisturizers usually contain chemical ingredients that make the
skin feel smooth, but actually cause further irritation while
robbing the skin of natural moisture. A good shielding lotion is
your best bet because it will not irritate the skin, locks in
moisture and keeps chemicals out.

Eighty percent of dry skin and are caused by contact
with irritants - take the hint: Get rid of soaps and
moisturizers that exacerbate the condition and stick with
natural soaps for cleansing and shielding lotion for dry skin
care. These changes may be all you need to get rid of your dry
skin or eczema, and it could be the end of your endless search
for something that works.

About the Author: Author, Gloria MacTaggart, is a freelance
writer who contributes articles on skin care for 21st Century
Formulations. For more information, visit
http://www.SkinMDNatural.com.

Source: http://www.isnare.com

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