It’s surprising how many people think they’re sensitive to water. They describe extreme post-shower redness, blotchiness, soreness and/or itching – a highly inconvenient reaction to an unavoidable daily ritual. Aquagenic urticaria (water allergy or sensitivity) is a miserable business, but in reality not all that common. In my experience, those who believe water is causing problems are more likely to be reacting to body washes containing sodium laureth/lauryl sulphate (SLS), a surfactant processed chemically from coconut or palm oil and used widely to make toiletries and cleaning products foam and lather.
Although most people tolerate SLS, it has a PR problem. Many believe it’s carcinogenic (there’s no solid evidence for this), harmful to the environment (it can be toxic to marine life) and a skin irritant (it’s not; reactions are usually mild). But SLS is drying. When skin becomes very dry, it itches, feels tight and uncomfortable, and sometimes reddens. In such circumstances, an SLS-free body wash is a wise choice, and a must if you suffer from eczema, psoriasis, dermatitis or ichthyosis. I was born with the latter (hence my obsession with skin) and have switched almost exclusively to Soaper Duper Body Washes (£6 for a whopping 500ml, packed in 100% recycled plastic). There are six natural, SLS-free fragrances, the shea and coconut being especially good for dry skin.
For the fragrance-intolerant, I recommend Sukin’s wonderful Dermasukin Daily Gentle Soap Free Wash (£8.98, 250ml), which contains aloe, camomile and nothing nasty. It lathers to leave skin feeling properly clean (thanks to sodium lauroyl sarcosinate, an eco-friendly and gentle surfactant) and increases post-shower comfort.
Baby washes are often a safe bet for the fragrance-averse, too. Childs Farm makes a mild, simple, unfragranced wash for £4 (250ml) that cleans without irritation. You could use soap, the product SLS was designed to replace. Dr Bronner’s Pure Castille Liquid Soap (£7.69, 237ml), in 100% recycled packaging, comes in natural fragrances or unscented, and can be used safely as shampoo, hand-wash, shower gel, household cleanser and detergent for hand-washing. Every product mentioned above is also cruelty free.
