Your Stories - Sodium Laureth Sulphate (SLS)

Creams without SLS in them help my skin - James, Halifax, UK

I read in the newspaper about several preservative chemicals used in creams which could irritate the skin further (bit of an oxymoron!) Amongst the scare mongering and general angst against the NHS and pharmaceutical industries it talked about a preservative in moisturizing creams called sodium laureth sulphate (shortened to SLS) which can worsen or irritate the
skin.

As I have tried just about everything going to get rid of eczema I didn't pay it much attention - same old story about something which doesn't really do much. However during a particularly bad patch, I decided to try a moisturizing cream without SLS in it, along side the steroids.

The eczema cleared up enough for me to stop using steroids, no surprise there. What is surprising is that this flare up was just before Christmas, and although I have been stressed due to January exams I haven't needed to touch steroids since.

I'm not saying that SLS free creams will magically cause your eczema to disappear but I have noticed an improvement and my skin is now healthier looking. It's still bad, and I still do get sleepless night occasionally, but it doesn't have a waxy texture anymore and its not bad enough for me to be using steroids.

The cream I am now using is also the same as before. (Aqueous) the addition of SLS seems to be based upon the pharmacy you go to. I tried several pharmacies before finding an SLS free one (Boots).

Hope this helps you. (June 2008) Contact James

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Page created: 10 June 2008