Hypoallergenic Soap
Coming Clean about Hypoallergenic Soap
Given the tough economic times, is it really worth it to spend the extra cost on hypoallergenic soap? That’s a question you might be having lately. After all, in times like these with all of this economic uncertainty and less money coming in the door, we want to avoid wasting money in a frivolous manner. So, let’s see if we can get clear about the costs versus benefits of hypoallergenic soap.
What is hypoallergenic soap? How is it different from regular soap?
Hypoallergenic soaps and detergents are cleansing products produced with as few allergy-producing chemicals as possible. The idea is simply to make a product that is least likely to irritate the skin of those people who suffer from allergic reactions to certain types of industrial chemicals.
The term “hypoallergenic” is basically an advertising term for these products. As an advertising term, it can have a range of meanings. So a product can advertise itself as “hypoallergenic”, if it has avoided one chemical known to cause allergic reactions. Generally, however, most products that advertise themselves this way do contain fewer allergens, and are effective for those who are sensitive to such allergens.
What allergens do such products claim to exclude?
The typical list of allergens that such products keep out of their manufacturing process are: artificial dyes and fragrances, formaldehyde, lanolin, parabens, phthalates, propylene glycol and sodium laureth sulfate (often abbreviated SLS).
Who should use hypoallergenic soaps?
The obvious answer is those who suffer from sensitive skin. If you commonly get rashes or other forms of skin irritations and you can trace this to the form of soap or detergent that you use, then you should consider getting a hypoallergenic soap or detergent.
You could also go so far as to visit a dermatologist and try to find out exactly what is causing your skin irritation. Most people however, don’t really like the prospect of spending their time and money going through this process.
Eczema sufferers: A subset of this group would be those with eczema. Eczema is umbrella term for skin reactions. Often eczema takes the form of dehydrated, desert-like skin. It is typically preceded by a sensation that causes the sufferer to scratch the surface and then moves to a stage where the skin feels enflamed or raw. In some cases, the surface of the skin may actually crack open becoming a site for infection.
Often those who suffer from eczema have a familial record of hay fever and/or asthma.
Babies: The largest portion of the market for hypoallergenic soaps and detergents (like Dreft, for example) focus on babies. This is not just because mothers are particularly vulnerable to plays on their fears about their baby’s health—though this is certainly part of the ploy used by advertisers—but also because one in five babies suffers from eczema. By age three, this number drops to one out of 50, but in the mean time, your detergent is more likely to cause irritation for your baby.
How to decide whether to use hypoallergenic soap or not?
The common sense rule should be: is this product causing me or my baby irritation. Many mothers especially, opt for the “better safe than sorry” approach, simply buying Dreft from the get go and never letting their baby wear any clothes that have been washed in “harsh” chemicals. It even sometimes seems like a mandate. You might be given that look—the You don’t love your baby as much as I do look—if you tell someone you just use a regular detergent.
However, if you use a regular detergent, and your baby does not get eczema, perhaps it is better not to go to the extra expense of buying the hypoallergenic soap or detergent. Also, some people believe that exposure to such chemicals might actually help the child’s immune system develop more robustly—like a vaccination against future exposure. I know of no studies that bear this out, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it is not true.
Finally, it may simply be a case of finances. If you do not feel particularly pressured to save extra money, then why not buy the slightly more pricey hypoallergenic soap instead. There are other areas where you can save money after all.