What type of soap do you use?

[TheCommuter]

I realize this does not seem like a nursing-related question, but our personal hygiene routines before and after work/school can have repercussions for us professionally.

My skin has the tendency to be dry and itchy due to longstanding hypothyroidism, and the problem is heightened in the winter. So, I strictly use liquid body wash four months out of the year from early November until early March. St. Ives Oatmeal & Shea Butter body wash soothes and moisturizes my itchy, dry skin.

From March through late October I switch mostly to bar soaps because my skin is not as dry and itchy during warmer weather. However, I still use liquid body wash on occasion. I use Tone Bath Bars with cocoa butter for the moisturizing properties. I also like Caress Daily Silkening body wash (white peach & silky orange blossom scent).

I absolutely DO NOT use antibacterial soaps when at home. I strictly use plain bar soaps and body washes to minimize the potential of resistance to microbes.

So, what kind of soap do you use to bathe/shower?

[sjalv]

I use a face mask from Lush before every shower (right now, I'm using 'Don't Look At Me', which is one of their fresh face masks, but otherwise I use their Mask of Magnaminty). In the shower, I use Dark Angels by Lush for my face, then a Bath & Body Works shower gel for the rest of my body. When I get out of the shower, I use general Cetaphil facial moisturizer and do not use any lotion on the rest of my body. I have used Cetaphil as a facial moisturizer since I was 13 and won't use anything else. If I don't use it, my face gets dry and my skin cracks.

For hand soap, I am currently using a Bath & Body Works foam soap that a friend got me. Otherwise, I have antibacterial soap from Target. I realize it isn't necessary and it is actually harmful, but when I first moved into my apartment, my brother went shopping with me and I got all the food items and he got all the nonfood items. Being a non-healthcare professional, he thought it was a good idea to get a huge bottle of antibacterial soap. So I'll use it because I don't want to waste it, but I won't be buying any more.

[nutella, MSN, RN]

Personally, I do not think that antibacterial soaps are great. Some years ago I read an article that alerted consumers to the fact that antibacterial soaps are not "good" - it is still in the media, here is a link from the Smithsonian Mag:

Five Reasons Why You Should Probably Stop Using Antibacterial Soap

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Science | Smithsonian

Having said that - I have hand soap on three bath sinks and the kitchen and some if them are the antibacterial kind because it is not always me who is buying it...

For body wash - my skin is uncomplicated and not that dry, I use whatever bath and body products if I want a liquid but actually like soap bars better - I only buy small bars because once they get wet and do not dry off they get "yucky". I like dove bars or sometimes buy a piece at the whole food market. The whole food market also has organic body wash - while some of their products are too expensive, they also have cheaper products that come in large bottles, I tend to buy the ones that have a pump head.

My kids both have very dry and sensitive skin, they are teenagers. When they are very dry they like to use eucerin wash , otherwise my son uses Axe and my daughter does not care - anything will do.

Yes, in my bath there are at least 8 bottles including shampoo because of preferences. My daughter has several bottles open in her shower as well..

[CT Pixie, BSN, RN]

All the sinks in the bathrooms and in the kitchen have liquid soap. Whether or not they are anti-bacterial depends on whats on sale that week. :)

For the shower, its either Dove or Olay body wash for the body and Ivory soap for my face. I have very sensitive skin that dries out very quickly...add in Eczema and using anything other than a body wash on my body (ie: bar soaps) dries my skin out.

[Libby1987]

Just tried Tone again and it's working for my thin dry skin, face too. Before it was Dove fragrance Free but it's a bit creamy for summer. Followed immediately with Trader Joes Moisurizing Night's Cream or Alba Extra Moisturizing Lotion.

I love many many of the bottled soaps but extra plastic and they're more time consuming. The large pump bottle are convenient but my shower doesn't have a built in shelf and they're too large/heavy for my hanging caddy.

[LittleTwinStars, ADN, BSN]

1) Grisi brand Sulfur Soap/Azufre Jabon. This particular has sulfur and lanolin, other sulfur soaps can have ingredients like salicylic acid, but I've found this to be the best for my acne prone, body acne prone, ingrown hair-prone, keratosis pilaris skin.

2) Dove Beauty Bar. I prefer the sensitive skin version because I don't like strong scents. The above soap can be drying in winter months, so I apply both soaps to my cleaning cloth and wash. I also use only this soap on my genitals, as women can get yeast infections from harsh and antibacterial soaps messing up their natural flora.

3) Dettol Soap on my underarms and feet, or all over if I've been splashed with something icky or when in public showers. Again, I prefer the sensitive skin version. People from countries involved with British history are familiar with Dettol, but the brand is relatively unknown in the Americas and many East Asian countries. Think of the Dettol line as Lysol, Dial, Neosporin, and Bactine in one. Their most famous product is their original golden antiseptic liquid, although they have soaps, hand and body washes, house cleaning products, laundry detergents, and antiseptic cream. In addition to the soap, I have heard of people with acne or KP applying the diluted disinfectant liquid to rash or acne prone areas, or mixing it into their shampoos, body washes, etc.

Dettol is an antibacterial soap due to chloroxylenol and pine oil. Although it isn't bad for you in the ways that triclosan is, it's toxic to animals and fish. Also, be prudent about using antimicrobial products outside of the healthcare environment. Remember: 1) It kills off the nonpathogenic, weaker microbes and prevent competition, and 2) The cleaning action of soap lies in the mechanical action and rinsing.

Also, I cannot rant and rave enough about Salux cloths. They're scrubby, exfoliating, long enough to scrub your back with, and much more hygienic than loofahs and bath poufs. Scrubby cloths can be found in many stores with extensive bathing products, although none are as satisfyingly scratchy as the Salux cloth. I use a softer scrubby cloth bought from Marshall's/TJ Maxx for more delicate places like face and underarms, and the real Salux cloth for the rest of my body. Salux also makes a Super Hard version for those who really like the abrasive exfoliation. Throw them in the wash whenever you do laundry to keep them clean.

[nrsang97, BSN, RN]

I use Dove.

[LibraSunCNM, BSN, MSN, CNM]

Dove Sensitive Skin! Have used nothing but that for almost 10 years. Never anything with perfume, never any antibacterial stuff. For lotion I might use something nice with a scent for my hands, but for the rest of my body, good ol' drugstore Jergens Ultra Healing works the best for my skin, even in the depths of a cold Northeastern winter.

[brandy1017, ASN, RN]

I use body wash floral scents, love bubble baths, but everything now is body wash. Dionis used to have wonderful hyacinth bubble bath, then changed to body wash and now only have hand soap in that scent. I really miss it! Found some wonderful jasmine soap on a trip to Hawaii from the Island Soap Co and Candle Works. I actually special order it in bulk and air ship it. It is my personal luxury, love the fragrance. I take a bubble bath along with a scented candle from them. Just heavenly! They also have some other tropical scents, but the jasmine is to die for, the next best thing since my hyacinth soap was discontinued. They also have some nice shampoo and conditioner, especially good for dry hair, but it is too expensive, although you can get free samples. Years ago I used to get Enjoli bubble bath at Christmas, an old floral perfume, but they discontinued that too. I love Red Door perfume, but I don't think I've ever seen it as a bath product. Sometimes at Christmas they have specials in perfumes, but I've only seen it as a lotion so far. Would make a wonderful bubble bath too!

I avoid antibacterial soaps as well as it is not good for you and we are bombarded with it enough at work.

[Red398]

I'm a big fan of dove. The bars or the deep moisture body wash. It does great for dry skin, and it smells amazing.

[brandy1017, ASN, RN]

Also Tuesday Morning carries some fine European hand soap, I especially love their Christmas soaps, my favorite is their orange scent.

[NotAllWhoWandeRN, ASN, RN]

I'm yet another Olay girl, ultra moisturizing with shea butter. My alternate is the Neutrogena grapefruit body wash with salicylic acid for acne. I'm a terrible mix of oily, dry, and sensitive, so I use whichever I feel like I need that day.

Hand soap is whatever moisturizing generic I grabbed off the shelf.

The important thing for me is the moisturizer. I like Gold Bond medicated (minty and soothing plus dimethicone), Palmer's cocoa butter, and Jergen's ultra healing. When my hands are super dry, I go for Burt's Bees hand salve or straight up vapor rub.

I don't ever use antibacterial soaps at home. I also avoid washing except after the bathroom and before eating. Humanity survived this long by resisting bacteria, not destroying it. Why contribute to superbugs when I don't need to? Plus abx soap smells and feels terrible.

[Erythropoiesis]

I love those handmade soaps made with stuff like oatmeal and lavender oil. Farmers markets sell them really cheap too. Smells great and is soothing to me at the end of a long day. My skin tends to be sensitive to abrasive detergents as well. I have liquid sensitive skin soap (generic) for days when I'm itchy and also have non-antibacterial hypoallergenic Dial soap because it's cheap but also gentle. At night I usually use Aveeno stress relief lavender lotion.

For handsoaps by the sink I grab whatever is cheap. As far as shampoo, I use whatever is the cheapest and paraben free. Herbal essences makes a good one.