Each person's experience with Skin Flare-Up of eczema & dermatitis is unique and the cause can be just as individual. Skin Flare-Up can be provoked by a host of trigger factors - some are irritants, and some are allergens. Food and stress can also contribute to Skin Flare-Up. Also, for hereditary reasons, some people inherit a naturally weaker skin wall, and are therefore more likely to experience Skin Flare-Ups.						Soap Soap can trigger a Skin Flare-Up of eczema or dermatitis either by washing out the protective oils in the skin, because of the perfume contained in the formula or because of the chemicals used to make the soap. The skin is like a brick wall, it is made up of skin cells, which are surrounded by fat. The fat keeps water in the skin cells, which makes them swell-up. This prevents cracks forming between the skin cells. Soap and detergents such as washing-up liquid wash out the fat from between the skin cells and as a result water is lost from them. The loss of water causes the skin cells to shrink and this opens up cracks. These cracks in the skin barrier allow other irritants and allergens to penetrate through the skin, which then trigger a Skin Flare-Up. Your pharmacist can advise on the many alternatives to soap that are available to avoid Skin Flare-Up, such as emollient soap substitutes.

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