For those with sensitive skin, using mild soap is important. The soaps above are all highly rated. If you’re allergic to anything specific, you’ll want to read the ingredients to make sure it doesn’t contain things that will make your skin react negatively. Here are some of the best mild soaps:
Did you know that most commercial soaps are actually a mixture of detergents and fragrances? Mild soap would generally not be made from detergent but rather from oil and lye. Extra oil is added to the soap to make sure all of the lye reacts properly with the oil. If you have sensitive skin then you’ll want to look for soaps that are either made with essential oils or fragrance free.
Causes of sensitive skin reactions
Skin disorders or allergic skin reactions such as eczema, rosacea, or allergic contact dermatitis
Overly dry or injured skin that can no longer protect nerve endings, leading to skin reactions
Excessive exposure to skin-damaging environmental factors such as sun and wind or excessive heat or cold
Genetic factors, age, gender, and race differences in skin sensitivity are less well-defined but still may play a role in causing skin reactions.
Skin Care Tips
Cleansing – From one person to the next, sensitive skin responds differently to different cleansing methods. But most dermatologists agree that “deodorant” soap or highly fragranced soap contains strong detergents and shouldn’t be used on the face. Soap-free cleansers such as mild cleansing bars and sensitive-skin bars along with most liquid facial cleansers have less potential for facial skin irritation than soaps. The same is true for cleansing creams and disposable facial washcloths.
Moisturizing – Moisturizing products help skin hold on to moisture so it resists drying and abrasion. See guidelines to choosing skin care products below.
What to look for in skin products:
More “skin-friendly” products contain:
Only a few ingredients
Little or no fragrance
If you have sensitive skin, avoid products containing:
Antibacterial or deodorant ingredients
Alcohol
Retinoids or alpha-hydroxy acids
If you’re using a new product and are unsure of whether or not it will cause a reaction, do the following:
1. For several days, apply a small amount behind an ear and leave it on overnight.
2. If your skin does not become irritated, follow the same procedure, this time applying the product on an area alongside an eye.
3. If you still don’t see irritation, the product should be safe for you to apply on any area of your face.
