What actually makes them different?
Cleansers use surfactants, ingredients that loosen oil and dirt so water can wash them away. Those ingredients can be soap, synthetic detergents, or a mixture. A synthetic detergent cleanser is called a syndet. Both formats can clean skin, so the bottle does not get promoted just for having a pump.1
| Feature | Traditional soap | Syndet cleanser |
|---|---|---|
| Formula | Made from fats or oils mixed with an alkali. | Made with synthetic detergents. |
| Format | Can be solid or liquid. | Can come in a bar or liquid cleanser. |
| Skin pH | Alkaline, which can irritate sensitive skin. | Can be formulated at skin's normal pH of 5.5. |
| Dryness | More drying than syndets. | Causes less dryness than soap. |
| Hard water | Forms soap scum and can leave irritating deposits. | Does not produce soap scum and rinses off. |
| Price position | Generally less expensive than syndets. | Generally more expensive than soap. |
Which should you choose for dry or sensitive skin?
Avoid deodorant soaps if your skin is dry or sensitive. If you have nummular eczema, which causes spots and patches, choose mild, fragrance free, hypoallergenic products made for dry skin; those can be cleansers, body washes or soaps. That leaves room to choose either format without treating every bar as harsh or every bottle as gentle.23
Look for "fragrance free," not just "unscented." Unscented products can contain fragrance to hide other ingredients' smells, so a quiet scent is not the same as a quiet ingredient list.3
How should you wash without making dryness worse?
- 1Use warm water, and keep baths or showers to five to ten minutes if your skin is dry.
- 2Apply cleanser gently. For dry skin, use it only where needed, such as the armpits or groin, and use enough to remove dirt and oil without creating a thick lather.
- 3Rinse thoroughly, then gently pat your skin dry rather than rubbing.
- 4Immediately apply a fragrance free moisturizer while your skin is still damp. For dry skin, choose a cream or ointment rather than a lotion.
What if both soap and body wash dry your skin?
For dry or itchy skin, an emollient soap substitute is another option. Emollients are moisturizing treatments, and many leave on versions can also be used for washing. They clean effectively without foaming like ordinary soap. Mix a small amount with warm water in your palm, spread over the skin, rinse and pat dry.4
Emollients can make the bath or shower slippery. Keep emollients and fabrics carrying their residue away from flames and cigarettes. If an emollient wash stings and the stinging does not settle after rinsing, ask a pharmacist for a different product. See a dermatologist if dryness persists despite gentler washing and moisturizing, or products cause burning, stinging or irritation.24
Can you use body wash as hand soap?
Not every body wash has an established handwashing use. For hand hygiene, wash with soap and the cleanest available water for at least 20 seconds. Emollient soap substitutes can also be used for handwashing.45
Can you use body wash as soap?
Yes, for washing your body. Body wash performs the cleansing job, even when its surfactants are synthetic detergents rather than traditional soap.1
How does body wash differ from hand soap?
The names describe where the products are intended to be used, not one fixed formula. Cleansers differ in their surfactants, added moisturizers, fragrance and texture; compare the actual products rather than assuming every body wash and hand soap differs in the same way.1
Where this answer comes from
- 1Soaps and cleansersdermnetnz.org
- 2Dermatologists' top tips for relieving dry skinaad.org
- 3Eczema types: Nummular eczema self-careaad.org
- 4Emollientsnhs.uk
- 5WHEN AND HOW TO CLEAN HANDSstacks.cdc.gov
