Eczema is a skin condition defined by a collection of uncomfortable symptoms. This often includes the skin becoming inflamed, itchy and even covered in rashes. The condition also varies in overall severity. Most people with eczema only experience mild symptoms. But almost everyone fighting the condition needs to watch out for triggers. Many types of soap have a good chance of triggering symptoms related to eczema.

These six types of soap are common triggers:

1. Soaps with cocamidopropyl betaine
Coconut oil might seem like a safe and natural ingredient. But an ingredient in it, cocamidopropyl, which is derived from coconut oil, can cause redness and even skin flaking in the general population. But as with most skin dangers it’s people with eczema who have more to worry about. The already rough reactions can become a full blown eczema trigger. This makes soaps with cocamidopropyl betaine from coconut oil a significant risk for anyone with eczema.

2. Soaps with botanical oils
Some types of botanical oils are known to help people deal with their eczema symptoms. But at the same time, others are well known triggers. One would certainly hope that soap manufacturers would stick with the positive oils. But unfortunately that’s not always the case. As we’ve seen, any complex molecule can act as an eczema trigger. And botanical oils usually contain a large and complex mix of different compounds. This doesn’t just make them a powerful trigger, it also makes any given mixture of botanical oils an unpredictable element.

3. Soaps containing methylchloroisothiazolinone (MCI) and methylisothiazolinone (MI)
Soaps containing methylchloroisothiazolinone MCI and methylisothiazolinone MI are fairly common. Thankfully the trend is going down as the compound’s potential as an allergen becomes more widely known. In fact, it was named “allergen of the year” in 2013. It’s estimated that about 10% of people with eczema will experience a reaction to the substance. However, it’s so rough on skin that even 1% of people who don’t suffer from eczema will experience similar symptoms. MCI and MI are effective preservatives. But the wide availability of alternatives means that many soap manufacturers are switching to other methods to keep their soap fresh.

4. Soaps with propylene glycol
Second place goes to a more recent winner of the Dermatitis Society’s Allergen of the Year Award. The 2018 winner is commonly found in both soap and other skin care products. The product does have some positive qualities for people who aren’t allergic to it. For example, it’s a powerful moisturizer. However, it’s also a very common trigger for eczema symptoms.

5. Antibacterial soaps
Antibacterial soaps have become quite popular. This is unfortunate in a lot of ways. One of the biggest reasons is that the inclusion of antibiotics in soap can lead to antibiotic resistant germs. It’s also likely to trigger eczema in people who suffer from the condition. The fact that it kills bacteria can even harm the normal microbial ecosystem that can keep our skin healthy. This makes it an even worse match for people with eczema.

6. Strong fragrance soaps
Don’t be fooled by labels which claim that soap is unscented or fragrance free. Even soap with those labels can have what’s known as a masking ingredient. These are scents which are meant to counteract the natural fragrances in soap. This means that a fragrance free soap might actually have two strong fragrances instead of none. This is a huge concern for people with eczema. Scents arise from chemical compounds, and any complex molecule can trigger eczema symptoms in susceptible individuals.