From Itchy Winters to Calm Skin
Why I Stopped Using Commercial Soap
About 10–15 years ago, every autumn and winter brought the same misery. It started behind my knees, then spread down my thighs, across my shins, and around my ankles. The itching was unbearable. I scratched until I bled. The marks lingered long after the flare passed — only to return the next cold season.
Doctors always told me the same thing: “Stay away from soap.” For years, I didn’t understand what they meant. Soap was supposed to clean. How could it be the problem?
Looking back, I realise they weren’t talking about all soap. They were talking about modern commercial cleansers.
What’s Inside Most Commercial “Soap”?
Many conventional bars and body washes contain Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS), synthetic fragrances, artificial colours, chemical hardeners, and preservatives. SLS is a strong surfactant. It creates foam and strips away oil efficiently — but that same efficiency can irritate the skin barrier.
Recent studies confirm that even low concentrations of SLS can cause irritation, dryness, and disrupt the skin barrier with repeated exposure. While SLS is not carcinogenic, it is drying — and for already stressed winter skin, that matters.
The pH Question
Healthy skin sits at a slightly acidic pH of around 4.7–5.5. Traditional natural soap is alkaline (usually pH 8–10). Yes, that’s true. Alkalinity can temporarily disturb the skin’s acid mantle.
But there’s a difference between a temporary pH shift and chronic barrier stripping. Skin can rebalance itself. Repeated exposure to strong detergents and synthetic additives, however, makes recovery harder.
What Changed for Me
About nine years ago, I started making my own soap — just oils and lye. No synthetic lather boosters. No artificial fragrance. No colours. Just simple, nourishing ingredients.
I didn’t expect miracles. But slowly, something shifted. One winter passed without itching. Then another. I realised I hadn’t scratched my legs in months. The flare-ups never returned. The marks faded. My skin stopped panicking. It simply felt calm and balanced.
Even My Hair Changed
Eventually, I began washing my hair with handmade soap. No conditioner bars. No apple cider vinegar rinse. My hair isn’t artificially slick or overly shiny — it just feels like my hair.
On busy days, when I forget to apply balm after showering, my skin no longer feels tight or itchy. It just feels comfortable.
That’s when I knew it wasn’t luck. It was about removing the unnecessary and returning to basics.
What About Dermatologist Cleansers?
Soap-free, pH-balanced pharmacy washes can absolutely help those with very reactive skin. I respect them. But for me, they felt neutral — my skin coped, but it didn’t thrive.
When I switched to handmade soap made with oils my skin recognised, everything changed. The itching stopped. The redness faded. My skin felt supported again.
SLS vs Handmade Soap
SLS-Based Cleansers
• Strong cleansing
• Higher irritation risk
• Synthetic detergents
• High foam
• Chemical runoff
Handmade Natural Soap
• Effective but gentler cleansing
• Lower irritation risk (no synthetic surfactants)
• Plant oils, lye, natural glycerin
• Creamy natural lather
• Biodegradable
What I Believe Now
This isn’t about saying one way is right. It’s about understanding what you’re putting on your skin.
For me, removing unnecessary additives changed everything. My skin stopped fighting. It started functioning. Choosing handmade, SLS-free soap isn’t about trends. It’s about simplicity, honesty, and giving your skin space to breathe.
It’s not flashy. It’s not over-marketed. But it works — and sometimes, that’s enough.
— Amy