Originally Published at https://www.healthline.com/health/skin/soap-for-dry-skin
Regardless of whether dry skin is due to environment, genetics, or a skin condition, choosing the right soap is important to avoid further irritation. But with so many soaps and cleansers on the market, which is right for your skin type?
We spoke with skin care experts to uncover what to look for and avoid when it comes to soaps for dry skin (and chose some top soaps to get you started).
Look for and avoid If you have dry, sensitive skin, the wrong type of soap can do more harm than good. Yes, it’ll cleanse your skin. But if the soap is too harsh, it can also rob your skin of natural moisture, causing further irritation.
Avoid sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) For example, some soaps contain the ingredient sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS). This is a surfactant — a compound in many cleansing detergents that degreases and washes dirt away. This ingredient is also in certain body washes, shampoos, and facial cleansers. It’s an effective cleanser, and some people can use it on their body and face with no adverse side effects. But since surfactants can have a drying effect on the skin, soaps containing SLS can cause further drying in people with already dry skin, explains Nikola Djordjevic, MD, a doctor and co-founder of MedAlertHelp.org.
Look for plant oils Djordjevic recommends using natural soaps, such as those made from organic vegetable oils. He says: “Any natural soap containing vegetable oils, cocoa butter, olive oil, aloe vera, jojoba, and avocado are perfect for dry skin.”
Look for glycerin If you can’t find a natural soap, look for products that have glycerin which will provide the skin with enough moisture, he adds.
Avoid added fragrances and alcohol Rhonda Klein, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and partner at Modern Dermatology agrees to avoid soaps containing sulfates. She also adds fragrances, ethyl, and alcohol to the list of ingredients to avoid since these can dry the skin and cause irritation, too.
Look for lanolin or hyaluronic acid Klein further highlights the importance of seeking out ingredients such as lanolin and hyaluronic acid for their hydrating effect. Lanolin — an oil secreted from the sebaceous glands of sheep — has moisturizing and conditioning properties for the hair and skin, whereas hyaluronic acid is a key molecule involved in skin moisture.
Avoid synthetic dyes Not only should you look for ingredients that hydrate the skin, it’s also important to avoid synthetic colors, explains Jamie Bacharach, a licensed naturopath and the head of practice at Acupuncture Jerusalem. “Companies that compromise on the quality and chemical composition of their soap in order to achieve a certain color aesthetic are not putting their customer’s skin first,” she says. “Synthetic colors are chemically achieved and typically have an adverse effect on skin, the likes of which may exacerbate dry skin problems rather than relieve them,” she adds. When shopping for a soap, it also helps to smell it before buying it. It’s not uncommon for soaps and body washes to have added fragrances. This appeals to the senses — but it can mess with the skin. “Soap that is overly perfumed or fragrant is almost always loaded with synthetic scents and chemicals to give off a strong smell and reel in consumers,” continues Bacharach. “Safe soaps that soothe dry skin will almost always not carry a powerful fragrance — so make sure to smell the soap before applying to your skin, so that it doesn’t make your dry skin worse.”