I've been having loads of trouble with irritated, itchy, dry hands and feet. Lots of other little patches too but my hands are the worse. I keep reading things about sodium laureth sulfate being a possible skin irritant, and that it removes too much natural oil, but look on the ingredients of most bubble baths, shampoo etc and it's there. I think it's something to do with the foaming properties. I went into the Body Shop yesterday, wrongly assuming that they were more 'natural' but it's in everything there too. My husband suffers from very bad psorasis so I'm hoping that a change will benefit him also as the more I hear about the contents in most bottles the less I like the thought of washing in them !. I even bought some Sanex because it's supposed to be good for the skin but guess what - it's got SLS and other scarey ingrediants in it too !.
Anybody know of better things to use ?.

Thanks Val.

Have you tried Johnsons baby shampoo? I have psoriasis and use that with no ill effects :) Don't know what the ingredients are though

  For bathing use Johnson baby wash, or baby bath ( can't remember the exact name) it comes with some oil in it but not too much that you feel oily.

E45 also have a body wash that is very good.

We don't use any soap products in this house for similar reasons. 

Thanks - I'm going to the shops in a minute (meeting mate for coffee and danish yum yum !). I'll have a look at the contents of Johnsons and E45 and give them a try.
Val

Hi
You can get special 'bubble baths' for dry skin conditions.One is oilatum(sp) and I believe E45 now make one too.They're not cheap but are designed to replace oils rather than strip them.
One warning though some can make the bath rather slippy so be careful
Archer

Oilatums really good, they do shower gel & a bath one.
Have a look at Moor Gold products as well, pricey but really good as well/
http://www.doghealth.co.uk/

Christine, Spain.

Old fashioned emulsifying ointment is also very good and very inexpensive. You ask for it in the chemists, and they have it in large tubs. It can be whisked into the bath water,
or mixed in your hands with water into a smooth cream. It doesn't matter if it's not completely rinsed off, just pat the skin dry and then use plenty of emollient such as E45 - it absorbs better on recently bathed skin. Just be wary of slippery baths, though!

My daughter suffers from psoriasis. She uses Oilatum followed by E45 cream. She also uses Diprobase (prescribed) which is better.

Try Polytar shampoo, or Neutragena. Both work well. Polytar is probably cheaper but you'd have to get this from your GP, but, I might be wrong. I haven't seen it on sale anywhere.

Hand cream - i use Lotil dont know what the ingreedients are but for soothing itchy skin its great. Infact its better than E45 but thats JMHO

I use Green People products. They are 100% natural.  The founder started the company as her daughter suffers from eczema and severe skin allergies.

http://www.greenpeople-organic-health.co.uk/

Kath.

Amazed today looking for 'natural' products. All the well known brands which say they are good for the skin contain as many nasty things as the others.
Kath, thanks for the Greenpeople web site. Intesting to see that the shampoo and body stuff actually says SLS free. I'd never heard of SLS until recently but it does seem to be a product to be aware of.
Thanks everybody else too for taking the time to reply. Like everything, the good stuff is so much more expensive. I've managed to find some Boots bath oil which was reasonable so it's a start.
Val

Hi Val,
Greenpeople shampoo is concentrated so although it seems expensive you only use a tiny amount.... I find it does last for ages.  :) 

Kath.

Going back to the Emulsifying ointment, apart from being cheap, an added and unexpected benefit I found when I used it as a soap substitute for dry skin, was that it improved and strengthened my nails no end! HTH. :) :) :)

My OH has a sensitive skin and can only use Johnsons PH 5 products. These are dear and we find Lidls Camomile Baby Bath just as good at about 76p a shot. Washing powder is another horror as just when we think we have the magic product, something in the next batch changes and its back to itch scratch and flush the machine again.. Manufacturers always deny " inconsistencies" Tesco Economy powder is doing the biz just now so keep fingers crossed!

i know you said you had been to the body shop..but did you check out their aloe vera range..I ahve quite bad exema and it did wonders for that MIL also swears by their "hemp" range!!!!!!