Cetaphil: An Eczema Sufferer’s Treasure

Among the many products, brands, and organic treatments my mom tried to soothe my flaring eczema skin when I was little, Cetaphil was one of them. I still float around brands and products for my skin care, but I always wander back to Cetaphil. My mom used to use the liquid cleanser on me, but when I began to make my own decisions, I constantly choose the bar soap, unless I’m travelling (and then I’ll pick up a bottle of Cetaphil’s Gentle Skin Cleanser, which can be used without water), because the bar soap lasts longer than the liquid form (which just easily runs out onto your hands or washcloth).

Cetaphil is, by far, the best and, most importantly gentlest cleanser available, especially good for those who suffer from eczema. For an adult, it’s like baby treatment, but in my opinion better (I tried various baby cleansers for my skin, but almost always broke out and itched as a result).

Cetaphil Gentle Cleansing Bar’s non-soap formulation is as mild as the mildest bar cleanser, and is designed for cleansing dry, sensitive skin. Ideal for bath or shower use. Cetaphil Gentle Cleansing Bar is non-comedogenic and contains no harsh ingredients that might dry or irritate the skin.

Cetaphil cleansers and moisturizers are dermatologist recommended for a good reason. The Cetaphil Gentle Cleansing Bar is “ideal for full body cleansing” and “non-irritating.

Non-soap formulation
If you use the liquid form of the Cetaphil cleanser, you’ll notice that it doesn’t lather. The amount of lather a cleanser makes doesn’t amount to the quality of cleaning you’re getting. The bar form of Cetaphil does, lather, however, but not to the point where you’re overwhelmed by bubbles and foam. I think that’s good. You can either use it alone or in a washcloth as I sometimes do — wrapping it in a washcloth may help you keep a better grip on the bar. You can either lather it on your body with the washcloth acting as a “barrier” between the bar and your body, or if your body is extremely sensitive, just have the bar to your body.

Is it really “moisturizing”?
I haven’t had any dry effects as a result from the Cetaphil Gentle Cleansing Bar, never experienced dryness from this cleanser, but it doesn’t keep your skin moisturized for an extended period of time. I always use a lotion after a shower, so don’t rely on this bar as a sole moisturizer for your skin. It does, however, keep your skin “feeling soft and smooth,” as the paper inside the box claims.

For a good lotion to use, try Vaseline Intensive Care Healthy Body Complexion or Aveeno Skin Relief Moisturizing Lotion with Menthol. I highly recommend the Vaseline Intensive Care Lotion over the Aveeno; but that’s my skin. Make sure you choose a lotion that works best for your skin. I have just found that these two work best when it comes to my skin and taking care of eczema.

Ideal for full body cleansing
This is a cleanser ideal for “full-body cleansing,” but when I see “full-body,” I always exclude facial cleansing. I never use anything but products made specifically for facial care on my face, because your face typically has more sensitive skin than the rest of your body. Cetaphil has other products mainly for facial care, also. I have never gotten eczema on my face, so I can’t say what that’s like, but I have heard of other people who have.

For dry, sensitive skin
Those who suffer from eczema or other problem-skin types typically have “dry, sensitive skin.” This is the cleanser. For those who don’t have problematic skin, just use regular soap, as you can probably find a kind of soap you like best. Remember, Cetaphil is NOT soap. The mild bar cleansers restore moisture to your skin as they cleanse, and unlike ordinary bar soaps, Cetaphil Gentle Cleansing Bar won’t dry your skin, clog your pores, or cause irritation. Unless you are allergic to triclosan, this cleanser is good. Cetaphil says that this is a cleanser for skin that requires special care.

When your skin is irritated or eczema sufferers have open rashes or wounds, Cetaphil cleanses well. I have never experienced stinging or pain from passing Cetaphil over open wounds or rashes. Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser does not leave any irritating residue and does not feel sticky (as some anti-bacterial soaps/cleansers feel after a wash).

This cleanser never gave me the urge to scratch in the shower, either, as some other products that have worked for me have (such as Neutrogena’s Body Clear Body Wash). Some soaps or cleansers may give people with sensitive or problematic skin an annoying itch even while in the shower, but fight the temptation. Either turn the shower a little hotter and run the itchy spot in the hot hot water, or clean quickly and get out the shower and put some anti-itch treatment or lotion on.

No scent, no strong fragrance
Many people who have sensitive skin are usually prone to breakout when a soap or cleanser has added fragrance (such as fruity smells or some strong deodorant-ish scent). Thankfully, Cetaphil does not use strong fragrance. In the ingredients, they do note that a “masking fragrance” has been added (because who wants to smell like chemicals?), but there is no scent, really, unless your nose is touching the cleansing bar. If you really want a whiff of the bar, go ahead and put it up to your nose, but it just smells like a cleansing bar… what does that smell like? Like cleanliness. It’s not offensive, especially because you barely ever smell it, and not harmful.

Ingredients:
sodium cocoyl isethionate, stearic acid, sodium tallowate, water, sodium stearate, sodium dedocylbenzene, sulfonate, sodium cocoate, PEG-20, sodium chloride, masking fragrance, sodium isethionate, petrolatum, sodium isostearoyl lactylate, sucrose cocoate, titanium dioxide, pentasodium, pentetate, tetrasodium etidronate, may also contain sodium palm kernelate

That’s just in case you’re keeping your eyes peeled for an ingredient you don’t like, are avoiding, are allergic to, etc.

Pricing
The bar soap usually runs a little less than $3.00 which is quite affordable and worth it. The only problem I see with this is that I buy this often — I use this cleanser a lot and take long hot daily showers. But this is the cheapest you’re going to get when it comes to Cetaphil. The liquid gentle cleanser is even more expensive, so if you like Cetaphil (and you like the liquid), try buying the store-brand of the liquid cleanser (such as Wal-Mart’s “Equate” version or Target version) — they run in the same kind of packaging and work equally. Don’t let buying brand names get to you: the store’s “off brand” works just as well; I mean, they contain the exact ingredients as Cetaphil and the only difference is that it will be significantly cheaper. Cheaper is good when it comes to buying these products often. Unfortunately I haven’t seen a store-brand of the Gentle Cleansing Bar, but $3.00/bar is not a rip-off.

Reference:

• Review on Vaseline Intesive Care Healthy Body Complexion