Eczema, also known as atopic dermatitis, is a skin condition that appears as dry, red and itchy skin, with mild to severe rashes. Other eczema symptoms include bumps on the skin, swelling, and peeling. Eczema can often arise in flare ups that come and go. Although the cause of this condition is not fully known, it’s believed to be triggered by an overactive immune system that reacts when exposed to irritants.

Common irritants include soaps, fragrances, and detergents. Besides medication, eczema can be managed by avoiding irritating products. Here are some irritating soaps that you should avoid to help calm eczema:

1. Soaps with strong fragrances
Fragrances are added to products to enhance their smell and sometimes to neutralize the odor of unpleasant ingredients. While a soap with fragrance might make your skin smell great, it might also trigger your eczema. Synthetic fragrances are particularly problematic, but even organic scents can cause a flare up. According to the National Eczema Association, fragrance causes an allergic reaction for between 8%-15% of eczema patients. The NEA also reports that fragrance is responsible for up to 40% of cosmetics-related allergic reactions. This means that if you have eczema, you have to be careful with scented products.

2. Propylene glycol based soaps
Propylene is an emulsifier hidden in many cosmetic products and some topical eczema treatment products like steroid creams. While it has excellent moisturizing and antiseptic properties, it is a common culprit for an eczema flare up. Since propylene glycol is commonly used in the cosmetic world, it can be tricky to avoid. The good news is that soaps manufactured using propylene glycol will often list it on the ingredient list. Ensure you check the label of soaps for this ingredient as you choose a soap suitable for your sensitive skin.

3. Soaps with essential oils
Contrary to popular belief, essential oils can cause an eczema flare up. When buying soap, you need to be careful with soaps containing essential oils because you risk irritation and allergic contact dermatitis. The National Eczema Association reports that heat and chemicals used during the extraction of essential oils can cause irritating compounds, which means products manufactured using essential oils are not a good choice for people with eczema. Essential oils that are commonly allergenic include tea tree, sandalwood, lemongrass, Ylang-ylang, and jasmine oil. Ingredients such as vanilla and rose oil can also increase skin sensitivity, causing further irritation.

4. Antibacterial soaps
A lot of antibacterial soaps tend to be harsh on the skin. For anyone who has eczema, the last thing they need is a soap that is excessively drying and irritating. The dryness and irritation caused by these soaps can be attributed to the antibacterial agent used or other components in the soap. To avoid this and combat eczema flare-ups, use only soaps made for sensitive skin.

5. Soaps containing methylchloroisothiazolinone or methylisothiazolinone
Methylchloroisothiazolinone (MCI) and methylisothiazolinone (MI) are ingredients incorporated into many cosmetic products to prevent the growth of bacteria and fungi and stop the breakdown of the product. Although they play an important role in the preservation of products, they can also irritate the skin. When shopping for a soap that will be eczema friendly, avoid soaps containing MCI and MI, as they might cause eczema symptoms like redness, flakiness and itchiness.

A lot of ingredients in soaps can aggravate eczema. To reduce the risk, always lean more towards soaps specifically made for sensitive skin. Additionally, check the ingredients list of any soap that you buy to make sure they don’t contain any of the ingredients discussed above.