Q: Can I use aqueous cream instead of soap?
A: Aqueous cream can be recommended as a soap substitute, to be used instead of soap in people with eczema. Soaps (including shower gels and bubble baths) can irritate and dry out the skin. This can make eczema worse. Although aqueous cream does not lather or foam like regular soap, it cleanses the skin well.
But firstly, you must make sure your aqueous cream formulation does not contain the ingredient sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS), which can irritate the skin and make eczema worse. Several emollients have been reformulated in recent years to remove SLS.
