11 Best Body Washes for Sensitive Skin, According to Dermatologists

How To Smell Nice With Sensitive Skin

This might be the question sensitive skin sufferers ask most—and Dr. Amanda Derwae, board-certified dermatologist at Integrated Dermatology of Fairfax, has reassuring news.

“Sensitive skin and smelling good are not at odds,” she says. But here’s the catch: “Many of our cultural habits around hygiene, including showering daily, don’t promote better skin health and are actually irritating to the skin, especially as we age and our skin doesn’t retain water as well.”

Dr. Derwae recommends what dermatologists call “gentle skin care,” which “includes short showers, lukewarm water, showering no more than once a day if possible and moisturizing.”

The key is strategic application. “Selection of a soap or body wash that isn’t drying or irritating is an important part of the process, as is applying it strategically to the armpits, genitalia/groin, buttocks and feet,” she explains.

What Body Wash Won’t Make Me Itch?

If you’re constantly scratching after showering, you need to identify the root cause before finding the right body wash.

Dr. Derwae explains that it depends on the reason for the itch.

“A body wash or soap will be drying or irritating for anyone if it’s overused, therefore, removing too many of the skin’s natural oils,” she says. “If washes are applied appropriately from the perspective of duration and frequency, then the cause of the itch could be other parts of the skin care routine, such as using a loofah or not moisturizing, that could make the skin itch.”

Another possibility? Contact dermatitis.

“Another possible cause is allergic contact dermatitis or a skin allergy to a component of the body wash or soap,” Dr. Derwae notes. “If you’re having trouble determining the cause of the itch, a board-certified dermatologist can help sort that out.”

What Makes Body Washes for Sensitive Skin Different?

You might assume that “sensitive skin” on the label means the product is actually different—but the truth is more complicated.

Dr. Derwae is refreshingly honest about marketing claims. “If we are talking about labels on the bottle, it’s honestly a lot of marketing,” she says. “It’s more important to pay attention to the ingredients than the marketing labelling on the bottle.”

Amanda Derwae, MD
Board Certified Dermatologist