[Closed] Washing without soap

Soap irritates this

actual soap? as in soap in a bar? Or all detergents like shower gel etc. too. They're not the same thing and a lot of people find soap proper too drying. But if you use both try cutting one or the other out for a while rather than everything.

despite using stuff supposedly designed for this kind of thing.

Anything marketed as 'for sensitive skin' if it does't work for you take it back to the shop and get your money back. For the manufacturer its pretty much guess work whether something is actually effective or not, they've no way to conclusively know and theres pretty much an industry wide blind-eye being turned to the efficacy of any 'for sensitive skin' products. So if something doesn't work take it back. Buy something else. You might find nothing works but one product not working is no indication that all similarly marketed products won't.

I find bar soap dries my skin out so much it looks flaky.

I've been using Sanex shower wash and it's made a big difference.

My pre-teen lad has been going fully soap free. But for a different purpose. I think him and his mates are having a stink-off.

Haven't used soap for about twenty years. I always use shower gel, face cleanser and hand wash. I stopped using soap, funnily enough, after working manufacturing the stuff for a short time in my early twenties. Caustic soda, animal fat and perfumes stay with you. All I can smell is the animal fat if I use soap now and I just feel unclean and clammy after using it 🙁

Sanex shower gel and a small amount of emoliant type cream after like diprobase..

Haven't used proper soap for decades. Shampoo seems to do the trick, unless those closest to me have stopped bothering to complain.

The other thing you can use if you're super-sensitive to any kind of detergent is emollient cream, which actually lathers up a bit in water for washing purposes, moisturises the skin and is very unlikely to irritate it.

Not tried it but E45 do an emollient wash cream for this sort of thing.

No cleansers of any kind ever go near my face - I get so dry if I do use any.

Sorry, I should have been more specific rather than using generic soap. I use Sanex currently and even that can cause flare ups.

Loads of good emollient soap alternatives available nowadays

Doublebase
Dermol & dermol 500
Oilatum
Dermasoft

I think they are all available OTC. As a psoriasis sufferer I've tried them all at some point. Just be aware that they can make the bath slippery

Edit: hibiscrub is great too, as it's antibacterial, and foams up well on a shower scrunchie. But you will want to moisturise with something after using it.

Try the E45 stuff.

Depends how dirty/smelly you get! Water alone doesn't clean all dirt and grease off without scrubbing.
Tried your GP? might be an over the counter option for your condition.

I usually only use soap or detergent on my face & hands. I shower without either & Mrs M doesn't compain about a smell. (Unless I've gotten really dirty from cycling and need somehting to shift the mud)

Just give up the products.

Tried your GP? [s]might [/s] There's almost definitely an over the counter option for your condition.

Sanex, e45 wash, dermol...exchange some monies for these products and see what works. Save your GP's time for more serious issues please.

DrP

My wife has some fancy Boots stuff that's pretty serious against dry skin.

http://www.boots.com/en/Boots-Derma-Care-Daily-Moisturising-Shower-Cream-250ml-_1264173/

Had eczema for years until I tried pure olive oil soap.

No more dry skin problems, used it happily for about 15 years.

Worth a go for just over a quid.

[url= http://www.hollandandbarrett.com/shop/product/oliva-pure-olive-oil-soap-60038772?skuid=038772&istCompanyId=8b7eb14d-bd9c-4f8a-aec2-4349bbabb5a0&istItemId=irrirrrwr&istBid=tztt&&utm_medium=cpc&gclid=CLHsybrcrM8CFUS4GwodaOMNIg ]link.[/url]

Try Aveno. My wife has suffered with this for a long time, getting cracked weeping skin etc and this is the only one which has actually worked for her. She has tried probably hundreds of different 'dry skin' products, oils, etc.

Edit: It was our GP who recommended it to her and it's made a big difference to her life so DrP can suck my cheesy balls. Plonker.

[i]Save your GP's time for more serious issues please.[/i]

Not being able to wash sounds pretty bloody serious to me!
[i]so DrP can suck my cheesy balls[/i]
YEAH!

Sanex Zero is looks good if your GP is TOO BLOODY BUSY!

Sanex Zero is looks good if your GP is TOO BLOODY BUSY!

Or a short course of Betamethasone, and then being able to wash with anything you like thereafter if he/she isn't

😀

I'd reckon if you can switch from one soap to another and from that point on everything is dandy then thats fine. If switching soaps/detergents only makes things less bad then 'less bad' isn't good enough. Literally being uncomfortable in your own skin is not something to just accept.

so DrP can suck my cheesy balls

In defence of DrP and your cheddary scrotum, a decent pharmacist can probably give you considerably better advice on this than a GP.

Throwing a spanner in the works - I can't use any gels, posh soaps, body washes, etc.
Makes my stink within an hour.
Good old fashioned, cheap as chips (cheaper in fact) Shield works for me .
Anything else leaves my skin with what feels like a film on it (in reality it is).
There's some very interesting facts and science behind most of it all including all the shampoos, etc.
You'd be surprised just what they put in even the simplest stuff let alone all the "special" ones "designed" for "X,y,z"

And in fairness, there are often many people to turn to, and many avenues open to chase.

If you phone 111 they'll have an ambulance round for you before you can explain what the problem is.

If you phone your GP surgery and explain to the receptionist what the problem is, they may well be able to say "oh, Dr X has a special interest in dermatology, I'll book you in with her". Or they may well be straight out of F2...

If you go to the high street pharmacy then you risk mingling with the hoi-polloi....

But about those cheesy balls, perhaps you need to see a doctor about those....

You'd be surprised just what they put in even the simplest stuff let alone all the "special" ones

Such as?

[i]Dr X has a special interest in dermatology[/i]

Can't say I blame him
[img] [/img]

DrP can suck my cheesy balls

Not part of my General Medical Contract. Though it may be a locally commissioned service i your area...?

Look - what I'm saying is that dry skin due to soap (like many other ailments) can be dealt with WITHOUT seeing a GP/specialist.
Even a quick google brings up a suggestion for Aveeno in the second hit (the first is an NHS site, so won't use brand names):
[url= https://www.google.co.uk/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=soap+substitute+for+dry+skin ]soap substitue for dry skin[/url]

The NHS is a rationed resource, for which the public (i.e the users) and the professionals within it ALL have a responsibility to utilise the remains of it wisely...

DrP

Anyway, I'm confused as to who actually has the cheesy balls - Dez?

Try Aveno. My wife has suffered with this for a long time, getting cracked weeping skin etc and this is the only one which has actually worked for her. She has tried probably hundreds of different 'dry skin' products, oils, etc.

There's also the possibility of a yeast/fungus/candida infection, they love the sweaty bits. I'd show the doctor if I were you.

Save your GP's time for more serious issues please.
DrP

There speaks a man who has never spent years in discomfort, trying everything and anything to alleviate the problem whilst being mugged off by his GP.

My dry skin started just below my armpits and eventually extended half way down my legs. Tried everything. Eventually it disappeared but not before many, many sleepless nights and actual tears of frustration and pain.

[i]Anyway, I'm confused as to who actually has the cheesy balls - Dez?[/i]

It was retro83. Can you recommend anything for him? And his plonker.

user-removed....
Actually, the op states

"I suffer with dry itchy skin in various places on my body but mainly around my armpits. Soap irritates this and can leave me feeling very sore despite using stuff supposedly designed for this kind of thing. [b][u]So I'm thinking of going to soap free washing and have read some good things about it. Has anyone here tried it?[/u][/b]"

Which is rather different to:

I'm in discomfort, trying everything and anything to alleviate the problem whilst being mugged off by his GP.

My dry skin started just below my armpits and eventually extended half way down my legs. [b][u]Tried everything[/u][/b].

[bangs head on desk]Essentially I'm saying try what you can over teh counter as a first line. If that fails, then seek advice!

Look at it this way..there's a FINITE number of patients contacts the NHS can have. I'm sure you would prefer it if those patient contacts were offered at times when standard advice has already been sought and tried?

DrP

Cougar - just look at the back of any of the bottles!
Parfums, emoilients, whatever derivatives of water, etc.
It's like shampoos that you supposedly need for dry/oily/greasy/damaged hair - 99% of it is utter bollocks.
There are genuine skin/hair conditions. Not disputing that.
The rest is all marketing bullshit for a multi billion industry.

Like Rusty above, I've found pure olive oil soap a help, and from the same place, for intermittent problem.

I have to avoid anything containing sodium laureth sulphate, which is almost everything these days, apart from one of the Simple facewashes (the other one does have it so read the ingredients).

I use Simple soap for everything else

both my sons have eczema.
we've used a variety of different types of creams over the years but the ones that seem to work are
oilatum bath additive when they have a bath
dermol 500 for when they use the shower
oilatum/diprobase emollient cream after bath/shower

the shower and bath stuff is used in addition to sanex kids body wash...although the oldest also likes to use my radox/original source shower gels

First off, I would say there are many different causes of eczema/skin conditions and many treatments, so get medical advice if this is a serious problem.

I get bad dermatitis if I use soap, so I use Hydromol ointment instead.

May I be a bit left-field here ... goats milk is good for folk who can't tolerate cow's so how about goat's milk soap. Just happen to have a box beside me and there's no palm oil nor parabens nor SLS/SLES, no artificial fragrance nor synthetic colours. Made by Cyril's Soap Shed btw.

May I be a bit left-field here ... goats milk is good

I agree it's very good indeed it just takes ages to fill the bath if you buy it in 2 litre cartons 😀

So in answer to our question, just wash with water, it's fine. No need for soaps/detergents/emollients etc. Warm water opens pores, bitnof a scrub, cool water. Dry. Happy days.

I agree it's very good indeed it just takes ages to fill the bath if you buy it in 2 litre cartons

Ha! I've now seen 2 farms selling goat meat, what gives?

Ha! I've now seen 2 farms selling goat meat, what gives?

Its a necessary component of selling goats milk - Only the female goats produce milk - the male goats are a waste of space and food unless theres a market for their milk - which there barely is. If you buy the milk you should buy the meat as well otherwise all those little billys just get slaughtered at birth.

Thank you macc and wondering whether it can be used as pet food? Have you tasted it? I don't drink the milk, just like using the soap. 🙂

Soap dodger...ha.
If sanex zero doesn't work it's bad cat aids.

I'm usually almost 100% with you but today...

Sanex, e45 wash, dermol...exchange some monies for these products and see what works. Save your GP's time for more serious issues please.

Is skin breaking down not serious...?

Even a quick google brings up a suggestion for Aveeno in the second hit (the first is an NHS site, so won't use brand names)

Surely, you are not suggesting treatment by Dr Google...? 😉

Patient contacts

God! I hate that phrase!

Is skin breaking down not serious...?

I remember a TV advert years ago, for some poncy face cream or other. Some Barely Legal Teen rubbing it into her mush, "my skin, it's sinking in!" she exclaimed. My Aspie brain always wondered about the wisdom in marketing a face cream by promoting its flesh-destroying properties...

I suffer a bit and use Simple soap and deodorants.

No troubles since I've been using them.

1- I would class skin breaking down as serious, yes. Dry skin, less so. Certainly something one could initially manage at home
B- yes, I'm suggesting looking at resources for self care of simple ailments. Home remedies have always been vitally important.. Granny probably had a readers digest book of home care - simple self care of small burns, abrasions, and what not is actually what's missing from a lot of society nowadays.
7-patient contacts... It's what they need to see if they don't wear glasses, right?

I think my suggestions have been prompted, perhaps more vigorously, by
A- a fairly eye-rolling Monday consultation...
B- the fact my work in the CCG recently has basically been of the ilk "the NHS is nearly fubar'd, and we ALL have to work to save it"

This basically means secondary care have to be more effective and realistic, Primary care have to work hard on reducing referrals when in house management or other community teams may help, and....the big one..... Patients MUST (yes, dare it be said, MUST) lose the sense of entitlement that some people have (not all, and not anyone in this thread have made me think they believe) that they can have ANYTHING 'health related' at a time that suits them.

I only highlight the fact that simple ailments that can initially be managed at home (and I'd class dry skin / sunburn etc a simple ailment) SHOULD be managed at home in a rather 'parental role' because I can see 'around the corner' so to speak....

There..that's my evening of public engagement over with 😉

I hope the skin's better. I can sympathise. My hands are completely knackered - I use diprobase, oilatum, dermol, and when really bad a smidgen of potent steroids. Even then they crack and drive me mad. In fact, when they are really dry and crack I get properly stressed!!!
I suppose that's what you get for having to wash your hands every fifth or sixth patient contact.......

DrP

I have chronic atopic eczema, and have had it for over 40 years. I try to avoid all soap/detergent type products. Most of the time I just wash with warm to hot water, and very occasionally with something mild, and only if my skin is in a condition that will take it.

I have used almost all of the stuff mentioned in this thread, and what works for one, may not be as effective for another. It will be a case of trial and error. I also find the efficacy of different moisturisers changes with time. Currently Aveeno is my moisturiser of choice.

MisterP - Pine tar soap might be worth a try. My wife suffered from pupps rash whilst pregnant and she found it really helped. This stuff..

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Grandpas-Pine-Tar-Soap-92/dp/B0001TO3NA

DrP - In an attempt to alleviate pointless docs appointments can you have a word with the private health care companies who insist on a docs referral for a physio. Always embarrassing to go in there with "Hi, I've hurt my knee falling off my bike but I've got private health cover so I'm only here for a referral".

Do you eat dairy? Have you tried cutting it out? Swapping out normal milk for soy on cereal and in coffee sorted mild eczema out for me