A Guide to Bathing When You Have Sensitive Skin

When you have sensitive skin, something as simple as choosing which bath and shower products to use requires a little more work. This is because those with very sensitive skin or skin conditions such as eczema or psoriasis often cannot simply use your standard shower gel and bath foam. Many bath and shower products in the UK contain scents and chemicals that can irritate or dry out the skin. These not only don’t support our natural skin health, but can actually worsen skin conditions. 

But this doesn’t mean having a luxurious soak in the bath with a variety of products is off the table. Here at Westlab, we specialise in making natural bath and shower products for sensitive skin to make bathing a spa-like experience, that won’t irritate or dry out your skin.

Here are our top tips to a pampering and relaxing bath or shower experience when you have sensitive skin.

Opt for gentle cleansers 

A lot of bath and shower products contain SLS and SLES (sodium laureth / laurel sulphate) which are commonly used lathering agents. These chemicals are an inexpensive way to create bubbles and foam, and many products contain them. The problem with SLS/SLES is that they irritate sensitive and eczema prone skin. They do this by stripping the skin of it’s natural oils and therefore disrupting its natural barrier. This can lead to your skin feeling dry, irritated, and tight. It can also make oily skin worse by causing your skin to become out of balance.

We created our range of natural shower gels with sensitive skin in mind and ensured they were free from SLS/SLES and allergens to accompany our natural bath salt range. This way, those with sensitive and eczema prone skin can enjoy a pampering bath or shower with soothing fragrance and gentle bubbles, without sacrificing the comfort of wellbeing of their skin.

Use Dead Sea bath salts 

Dead Sea bath salts are an excellent way for people with sensitive or eczema prone skin to nourish and cleanse their skin, without causing any irritation or discomfort. Often, those with eczema struggle to find bath salts or any bath products that they can enjoy without worrying about triggering a flare up. But with Dead Sea bath salts, not only can those with eczema enjoy their baths worry-free, these bath salts are effective in relieving eczema symptoms. 

This is because Dead Sea salt contains magnesium which has anti-inflammatory properties. As inflammation is the main cause of an eczema flare up, it can stop the itch/scratch cycle, which is a real game changer when it comes to eczema.

Stick to warm water rather than hot

Showering and bathing in warm water is much better for your skin than showering in super hot temperatures. Although it’s tempting to step into a hot, steamy shower, it doesn’t do much good for your skin, especially if you’re prone to sensitivity or eczema.