The first and primary recommendation is don't use soap unless you have to.  What, don't we sell soap?  Yes we do, and our soaps are formulated to be vitamin and oil rich, as well as skin friendly.  Still, if you have eczema, the current medical school of thought is that people overuse soap and that eczema sufferers should use soap only when water is not sufficient to remove dirt from skin.

The Best Soap for Eczema
Unfortunately there is no one agreed upon best kind of soap for eczema sufferers.  Different clinical tests, sponsored by different soap companies, unsurprisingly tout various brands as the most skin friendly based on specific properties of various soaps and different underlying assumptions as to what really determines skin friendliness. 

Dermatological recommendations in choosing a soap generally include: 

• Avoid harsh detergent soaps.

• Choose a soap that has an oil, fat, or petroleum base.

• Use an unscented soap.

• Patch test your soap choice, by using it only on a chosen area until you are sure of its results.

How to Use Soap When You Must

• Bathe instead of shower.

• Bathe in warm water--not hot.

• Use soap sparingly.

• Avoid using washcloths, sponges, or loofahs.

• Use soap on areas where it is necessary.

• Soap up only at the very end of your bath.

• Pat your skin with a soft towel till slightly damp.

• Use an alcohol and fragrance free moisturizer to seal the bath's moisture in your skin.

Reducing the Effects of Eczema

1. Avoid contact with anything you know irritates your skin. Common irritants include:

• Scratchy Clothing

• Detergents

• Fragrances

• Specific Foods

• Mold

• Tobacco Smoke

• Pollen

• Mites

2. Control the humidity and temperature of your environment as much as possible.  Avoid sudden changes.

3. Reduce Stress

4. Establish a skin care routine that includes moisturizing frequently and washing infrequently.

5. Avoid harsh detergents. Use alcohol and fragrance free oil, fat, or petroleum based soaps and lotions.

 Our Soaps and Lotions
Dreamview Farm handmade soaps and lotions are natural goat milk (fat) based and designed to be as skin friendly as we can make them.  Most commercial soaps are actually detergents rather than glycerin (soap).  We use no alcohol or detergents and all of our products are available fragrance free.  Our customers with eczema have told us that after using our soap, lotion, and lip balm their skin was healthier than ever.  We hope your experience will be the same!  Visit DreamView Farm Soaps and Lotions

Sources:

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/467063_5

http://www.skincarephysicians.com/eczemanet/whatis.html

http://www.niams.nih.gov/hi/topics/dermatitis/index.html

http://familydoctor.org/176.xml

http://www.nationaleczema.org/home.html

http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/skin_hair/eczema_moisturisers_003761.htm