Have you used hand soap and experienced symptoms such as itching or rashes? If so, you may be allergic to your hand soap.
Here, we’ll provide you with everything you need to know about hypoallergenic hand soap. We’ll also talk about how it may cause allergies, give some product recommendations and even teach you how to make your own hypoallergenic hand soap.
Read on to find out more!
Can Hand Soap Cause Allergies?
While hand soaps are a necessary part of everyday hygiene, it’s not unusual to have an allergic reaction to the chemicals that are found within hand soap.
If you’re allergic to your hand soap you’ll most likely have a skin reaction also known as contact dermatitis. Symptoms can range from mild to severe and in its most serious form can even be associated with respiratory distress.
What Causes Hand Soap Allergies?
While symptoms can arise from any ingredient, the most common culprits are perfumes, preservatives along with detergent and bleaching compounds. The below are some harmful chemicals in hand soaps that you should avoid:
- Fragrances
- Parabens
- Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES)
- Triclosan
- Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS)
Treatments for a Hand Soap Allergy?
You’ll want to first wash the area of contact properly with hypoallergenic soap and water. Then, you’d want to apply hypoallergenic lotion to soothe your rash. If you’re not entirely sure what’s causing these allergies you can also head to your doctor to conduct an allergy test.
If you’ve confirmed that your soap is causing an allergic reaction, you can opt for a hypoallergenic hand soap. Below we’ll tell you a little more about them and give you some product recommendations.
What Is Hypoallergenic Hand Soap, Anyway?
Starting with the basics, hypoallergenic hand soaps are basically made with gentle ingredients and help with preventing allergies on the skin.
They’re usually made of natural antibacterial agents and oils. They also usually have antioxidants, different types of citruses and glycerin – which locks in moisture and maintains a soft and supple skin.
While there’s a certain appeal to natural ingredients like essential oils, these can still cause irritations in people with ultra sensitive skin.
Can I Make My Own Hypoallergenic Hand Soap?
If you’d like, you can also go ahead and make your own hand soap. By creating your own soap you can also add your favorite scents and flavors.
- Start by pouring 3/4 cup of water into a soap dispenser
- Add 1/4 cup of Castile soap
- Add about 20 drops of essential oils your skin can tolerate. If you’d like you can also use lemon to remove food odors.
Best Hypoallergenic Hand Soaps On The Market
If you’re allergic to the hand soap that you currently have and aren’t into making your own, we totally get it. Instead, consider purchasing any of these hypoallergenic hand soaps listed below.
Ivory
This hypoallergenic Ivory hand soap is perfect for all parts of your body and is made with pure and purposeful ingredients. Best of all, it’s free from sulfates, parabens, heavy perfumes and dyes, and is great for your skin.
Tom's of Maine
This Tom’s of Maine Natural Beauty set comes with five ounce bars of all natural bar soap in a lavender and shea scent. Not only will it help with washing away germs, it’s also gentle on the skin and has no artificial colors, fragrances or preservatives. It’s also not tested on animals, is dermatologist-tested, and has zero parabens.
Dove
Dove is a well-known brand so it’s not surprising they’ve got an effective hand soap that will nourish your skin with its hypoallergenic formula. It’s dermatologist recommended and formulated with mild cleansers and some moisturizing cream for soft and supple skin.
FAQ’s – You Ask, We Answer
Below are answers to some of the commonly asked questions we’ve received.
Does Hypoallergenic Hand Soap Expire?
Yes it does expire. While it’ll still lather when you wash your hands and it should be effective, store-bought soaps usually expire after two to three years. If you’ve got natural or handmade soaps, they’ll usually expire within a year as you’re using essential oils and fragrances that can get rancid.
What Happens If You Use Expired Hand Soap?
If your hand soap still lathers up when you wash your hands, it’ll still kill bacteria and viruses. Even so, you probably shouldn’t use hand soap that’s already expired as the oils in it may be rancid and still lead to irritations.
Is Liquid Soap Better Than Bar Soap For Allergies?
Both are equally effective against bacteria and viruses. There are however some slight differences between the two. Liquid soap for example can be less dry on the skin due to the addition of moisturizers, but bar soaps can be more effective at removing debris like dirt due to the friction that stems from rubbing the bar soap against your hands.
Simply, you should:
- Follow the recommended product instructions.
- Pay attention to any warning statements such as “danger” or “poison”.
- Clean up any spills.
- Wash your hands after doing your laundry, and wash any tools that you may have used to measure the products.
- Observe your reactions to items you washed and if allergies persist, use a different product.
Do Germs Stay On Bar Soap?
Germs can live on bars of soap but it’s highly unlikely that the germs will make you sick or cause a skin infection. To minimize the amount of germs on your soap you should always store soap out of water and allow it to dry between uses.
So there you have it! A comprehensive overview of hypoallergenic hand soap and what causes hand soap allergies. By switching out to a hypoallergenic soap, you should be able to alleviate any symptoms that stem from allergies while keeping your hands clean and soft.
