Category: Skin Health and Beauty

How To Get Rid of Hot Tub Rash Naturally

Posted on March 30, 2026 by - Skin Health and Beauty

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12 minutes read

How To Get Rid of Hot Tub Rash Naturally

Will Sheppy, Founder and Acupuncturist at Valley Health Clinic
Willard Sheppy Dipl. OM, LAc, BS

Willard Sheppy is a licensed acupuncturist (LAc) and Founder of Valley Health Clinic specializing in using Traditional Chinese Medicine to treat acute injuries and chronic conditions, and to improve sports performance and rehabilitation.

Table of Contents

By Will Sheppy, Valley Health Clinic
I still remember waking up one morning with red bumps all over my face and feeling completely thrown off. I went to the doctor, got the answer, and it was not a very satisfying one: hot tub rash, also called hot tub folliculitis. The message was basically to keep the skin clean and wait it out. If you have dealt with it before, you know that is a long week.
That experience changed how I think about pools, spas, and hot tubs. Now I think less about “Does the water look clean?” and more about “What am I doing to protect my skin before and after exposure?”
Hot tub folliculitis, also called hot tub rash or pseudomonas folliculitis, is an infection of the hair follicles caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The CDC says contaminated water left on the skin can trigger this rash, and a 2026 dermatology review notes that P. aeruginosa is an important skin pathogen that can cause folliculitis along with other skin infections.

What is hot tub folliculitis?

Hot tub folliculitis is a bacterial irritation and infection centered around the hair follicles. It tends to show up as itchy, red, bumpy skin, and in some cases, the bumps can become pus-filled. It is often worse in areas where a swimsuit keeps contaminated water against the skin.
One reason this condition catches people off guard is timing. The rash does not always show up right away. Symptoms can appear several hours after exposure or take up to 5 days, and the CDC notes that they often appear a few days after sitting in a poorly maintained hot tub. So yes, skin irritation showing up two or three days later still fits the pattern.

Why is hot tub rash so frustrating?

The frustrating part of hot tub rash is that there is often no dramatic moment where you know the exposure happened. The water can look fine. Cleveland Clinic notes that you usually cannot tell whether a hot tub is safe just by looking at it, which is why asking about maintenance and checking disinfectant and pH levels are important.
Once folliculitis starts, mild cases often improve on their own, but that does not make the experience pleasant. treatment may not be needed in mild cases because it often clears on its own. Hot tub folliculitis usually resolves within one to two weeks.

What Is Pseudomonas aeruginosa?

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is best understood as a highly adaptable, opportunistic, non-fermenting gram-negative rod with a strong capacity for environmental survival and clinically important antimicrobial resistance.
  • Gram-negative means it has a thin peptidoglycan layer plus an outer membrane containing lipopolysaccharide, which contributes to inflammation and also limits antibiotic entry.
  • Flagellated means it is motile, which helps it reach and colonize surfaces. “Obligate aerobe” means it prefers oxygen-rich environments, which fits its frequent presence in water systems, moist skin sites, the external ear canal, wounds, and medical equipment.
  • It is found in soil, plants, and especially humid or aquatic environments.
  • It produces the pigments pyocyanin and pyoverdine, which are clinically relevant because they contribute to the blue-green appearance sometimes seen in cultures or infected tissue and help with oxidative injury and iron acquisition.
  • Quorum sensing is the cell-to-cell signaling system that coordinates group behavior, including biofilm formation and toxin expression, so in practice
  • Low outer-membrane permeability reduces drug entry, efflux pumps actively export antibiotics, Biofilms further increase treatment failure by creating a diffusion barrier and a protected metabolic state in which antibiotics work less effectively.
What makes P. aeruginosa medically important is the combination of virulence plus resistance.

Natural treatments for Hot Tub Rash

When people search for natural treatments for folliculitis, I think the first category should be practical skin care, not magic claims. The goal is to lower irritation, keep the skin clean, and support the skin barrier.
The prevention advice is very straightforward: remove the swimsuit, shower with soap after getting out of the water, and wash the swimsuit before wearing it again. Cleveland Clinic also advises avoiding shaving right before hot tub exposure, since freshly irritated skin gives bacteria an easier opening.
In real life, that means a few simple habits matter a lot:

1. Wash off as soon as possible

Do not wait until bedtime if you have just been in a spa or pool all afternoon. Showering promptly and using soap are among the clearest prevention steps the CDC recommends.

2. Get out of the wet swimsuit

Hot tub rash is often worse where the swimsuit holds water against the skin. That is another reason I am big on changing quickly after getting out.

3. Avoid over-stripping the skin

This is where I think people make mistakes. They try to “scrub away” the problem with harsh cleansers, long hot showers, or aggressive exfoliation. That can leave the skin barrier more irritated, not less. A gentler rinse-off cleanser makes more sense for already reactive skin. Emily Skin Soother Herbal Ice is a mild daily-use bar for red, inflamed, reactive skin.

Why I like Emily Skin Soother Herbal Ice

Herbal Ice Soap

Emily Skin Soother Herbal Ice is a mild bar soap formulated to address the vulnerabilities that lead to folliculitis. It contains activated charcoal, which draws out impurities and bacteria, paired with traditional herbal compounds known for their antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties.

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The difference is in the formulation: it’s gentle enough for daily use but substantive enough to actually reduce bacterial load and inflammation. Unlike harsh scrubs or antibacterial soaps that damage your skin barrier, this soap supports your skin while protecting it.
It also includes bamboo activated charcoal plus the “Three Yellows”: Huang Bai (Phellodendron amurense bark), Huang Qin (Scutellaria baicalensis root), and Huang Lian (Coptidis rhizome). On the product page, these herbs are described as traditional ingredients for redness, heat, itching, and discomfort, with tea tree and lavender included for support of irritated, reactive skin.
The “Three Yellows” are three classic Chinese medicinal drugs with a strong research focus on anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anti-cancer activity, largely driven by alkaloids and flavonoids such as berberine, palmatine, baicalin, and wogonin.

Huang Bai

Huang Bai refers to Phellodendron amurense bark (often discussed together with Phellodendron chinense in research), and reviews describe it as a source of compounds with anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antitumor, and pharmacokinetic interest.

Huang Qin

Huang Qin is the dried root of Scutellaria baicalensis, and the literature consistently highlights baicalin, baicalein, wogonoside, and wogonin as key bioactives. The main research themes are anti-inflammatory, antiviral, antibacterial, antioxidant, hepatoprotective, neuroprotective, and antitumor effects, with baicalin especially studied for inflammatory disease mechanisms.

Huang Lian

Huang Lian is Coptidis rhizome (Coptis species), and research emphasizes its rich berberine-type isoquinoline alkaloids and broad pharmacology. Major findings include antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antidiabetic, metabolic, and anticancer activities.

My routine to help prevent hot tub rash

Before getting in, avoid shaving or waxing the area that day. After getting out, remove the swimsuit, shower promptly with soap, and wash the swimsuit before using it again. If you are at a private hot tub, use test strips and make sure the disinfectant and pH are in range. The CDC recommends chlorine of at least 3 ppm for hot tubs, bromine 4 to 8 ppm, and pH 7.0 to 7.8.
For people with reactive skin, I would rather see a consistent, gentle routine than a once-in-a-while harsh one. Emily Skin Soother Herbal Ice fits that idea well because it is designed as a daily-use rinse-off cleanser for inflamed, sensitive skin.

When to see a doctor

Most mild cases settle down on their own. But you should not ignore symptoms that worsen, recur, or look more aggressive than a standard rash.
P. aeruginosa is not limited to hot tub folliculitis. There are other cutaneous pseudomonas presentations, including green nail syndrome, interdigital infections, swimmer’s ear, and, in more serious situations, deep ear infections, ecthyma gangrenosum, and necrotizing infections. Those are very different from a simple hot tub rash, but they serve as a reminder that this organism has a wide clinical spectrum.
There is also a growing problem of antimicrobial resistance in P. aeruginosa. That is one more reason I would rather focus on exposure reduction, skin hygiene, and early attention to worsening symptoms than assume every case will stay mild and self-limited.
Prevention is Key.
That is why I focus on simple things that are easy to repeat: get out of the wet swimsuit, shower quickly, use a gentle soap, and do not assume the water is safe just because it looks clean. For that routine, I like Emily Skin Soother Herbal Ice because it is mild enough for daily use and built for angry, reactive skin.
If hot tubs or pools tend to set your skin off, build your routine before the next exposure, not after the next rash.

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Will Sheppy, Founder and Acupuncturist at Valley Health Clinic
By Will Sheppy, L.Ac
Willard Sheppy is a licensed acupuncturist (LAc) and Founder of Valley Health Clinic specializing in using Traditional Chinese Medicine to treat acute injuries and chronic conditions, and to improve sports performance and rehabilitation.

FAQ's

How soon after being in water should I wash my skin?
As soon as possible. The longer the Pseudomonas bacteria sit on your skin, the more time it has to enter hair follicles. Ideally, wash within 30 minutes of leaving the water. If you’re at a resort or pool facility, rinse off right away with fresh water and use your soap as soon as you can.
Yes. The bar is designed for daily use, which is ideal if you’re around pools or hot tubs frequently. Regular use helps maintain your skin’s natural defenses and reduces the bacterial load on your skin surface.
Keeping your skin clean is the foundation. Beyond that, avoid shaving or waxing right before or after water exposure—small cuts in the skin give bacteria an easier entry point. Keep your skin moisturized and avoid tight clothing immediately after exposure to water. But the soap is the critical first step.
Continue to keep the area clean with a gentle soap and avoid further exposure to water until it’s healed. If the rash is severe or doesn’t improve after a week or two, see a doctor. For prevention and faster recovery, the herbal ice soap supports your skin’s healing process.
Yes. It’s formulated to be gentle yet effective. The herbal compounds and activated charcoal are chosen specifically because they’re effective without being harsh. If you have known sensitivities, test it on a small area first.

References

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2025, May 30). Preventing hot tub rash.

https://www.cdc.gov/healthy-swimming/prevention/preventing-hot-tub-rash.html (CDC).

Cleveland Clinic. (2022, June 28). Hot tub folliculitis: Rash, symptoms, causes & treatment.

https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/23358-hot-tub-folliculitis (Cleveland Clinic)

Hartmann, D., Ibaceta Ayala, J., & Morgado-Carrasco, D. (2026). Cutaneous infections caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Clinical presentation, diagnosis and treatment. Actas Dermo-Sifiliográficas, 117(3), 104590.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ad.2025.104590 (ScienceDirect).

MedlinePlus. (2024, October 14). Hot tub folliculitis. U.S. National Library of Medicine.

https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/001460.htm (MedlinePlus)

Valley Health Clinic. (n.d.). Herbal Ice skin soothing mild bar soap. Retrieved March 30, 2026, from

https://shop.valleyhealthclinic.com/products/herbal-ice-skin-soothing-mild-bar-soap (Valley Health Clinic).

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Which Emily Skin Soother Is Right for You?

Posted on February 26, 2026 by - Skin Health and Beauty

  • Verified
17 minutes read

Which Emily Skin Soother Is Right for You?

Will Sheppy, Founder and Acupuncturist at Valley Health Clinic
Willard Sheppy Dipl. OM, LAc, BS

Willard Sheppy is a licensed acupuncturist (LAc) and Founder of Valley Health Clinic specializing in using Traditional Chinese Medicine to treat acute injuries and chronic conditions, and to improve sports performance and rehabilitation.

Table of Contents

Which Emily Skin Soother Is Right for You?

A Complete Guide to the Full Product Line
One of the most common questions I get from customers at Valley Health Marketplace is some version of this: “I know I want Emily Skin Soothers, but I don’t know which one to get.”
It’s a fair question. The product line has grown, and from the outside, several of these look similar. They’re all herbal, they’re all gentle, they’re all made by Mike Arsenault with the same deep commitment to quality. But they’re not interchangeable — and picking the right one for your skin type or condition is going to make a real difference in your results.
I’ve been using and recommending Emily Skin Soothers in my clinic for a while now. In this guide, I’m going to walk you through every product in the line, tell you exactly who each one is for, and give you the clearest possible answer to the question: which one is right for me?
Let’s start with the most important thing: understanding your skin’s biggest complaint.

The Quick Answer: Match Your Skin to the Right Product

Your Skin Complaint Start Here Add-on for Better Results
Dry, itchy, red — eczema, mystery rashes, “chicken skin” Emily Skin Soother (Original or Lavender) Add Mild Bar Soap (daily gentle cleansing)
Psoriasis, cracked heels, extreme dryness Super Dry Skin Soother Add Mild Liquid Soap (daily gentle cleansing)
Diaper rash, yeasty or fungal rashes, hot skin folds Diaper Plus Skin Soother —
Hot, sweaty rashes, burns, fungal skin issues (adults) Hot Skin Soother Add Herbal Ice Mild Bar Soap
Do you have a tail, 4 legs, and like to scratch? Furry Friend Shampoo & Skin Soother —
Your Skin Complaint Start Here Primary Recommendation Add-on for Better Results Optional Support
Dry, itchy, red — eczema, mystery rashes, “chicken skin” Emily Skin Soother (Original or Lavender) Add Mild Bar Soap (daily gentle cleansing)
Psoriasis, cracked heels, extreme dryness Super Dry Skin Soother Add Mild Liquid Soap (daily gentle cleansing)
Diaper rash, yeasty or fungal rashes, hot skin folds Diaper Plus Skin Soother —
Hot, sweaty rashes, burns, fungal skin issues (adults) Hot Skin Soother Add Herbal Ice Mild Bar Soap
Do you have a tail, 4 legs, and like to scratch? Furry Friend Shampoo & Skin Soother —

Emily Skin Soother — The Original (Unscented & Lavender)

Best for: Eczema, keratosis pilaris, rosacea, dry itchy mystery rashes
This is where it all started, and for good reason. The original Emily Skin Soother is the most soothing product in the entire line for eczema — and honestly, it’s one of the most soothing things I carry in the whole store. Five simple ingredients. No unnecessary fillers. No added fragrance in the unscented version. Just a clean, barrier-supporting formula that gets out of its own way and lets the herbs do the work.
If you or your child have eczema and you haven’t tried this yet, this is your starting point.

What Does it Do?

Beyond eczema, I’ve watched this formula surprise people in a few specific ways. It’s genuinely effective on keratosis pilaris — that rough, bumpy “chicken skin” that shows up on the backs of arms and legs, and often flares worse after swimming or pool exposure. The salve calms the irritation and smooths the texture in a way that drugstore lotions just don’t.
I’ve also seen it work well for rosacea-related redness. The lavender version in particular seems to have an extra edge here — the cooling, anti-inflammatory properties of lavender pair well with the base formula for flushed, reactive skin. If you have rosacea or persistent facial redness, I’d point you to the lavender version first.
And for those frustrating “mystery rashes” — the itchy, dry, red patches that show up seemingly out of nowhere and don’t fit any neat category — this formula consistently helps. Whether it’s a contact reaction, a stress flare, or just dry winter skin with inflammation on top, the original Emily Skin Soother is usually my first recommendation.

Unscented vs. Lavender: Which One?

Unscented: Best for babies, very sensitive skin, fragrance-reactive skin, or anyone who wants the cleanest possible formula. Also better for the drier types of eczema.
Lavender: Adds a gentle anti-inflammatory and cooling quality. Great for rosacea, flushed redness, and anyone who doesn’t have fragrance sensitivity.
When in doubt, start unscented. You can always add the lavender version later.
The Orignal
Lavender

Super Dry Skin Soother

Best for: Psoriasis, severely cracked heels, extreme dryness, windburn, sunburn, winter skin
If the original Emily Skin Soother is the everyday workhorse for eczema, the Super Dry Skin Soother is what you reach for when things are seriously, stubbornly dry. This is the cream I point people to when they describe skin so dry it’s cracking, peeling, or painful.
It’s our best option for psoriasis. The extra emollient richness in this formula helps address the thick, scaly, moisture-starved quality of psoriatic skin in a way that lighter creams can’t.

What does it do?

The feedback I hear most often about this product involves feet. Cracked heels, “sandal feet,” rough calluses — the kind of dryness that builds up over time and resists everything you throw at it. The Super Dry Skin Soother is genuinely impressive here. People report softened, healed heels within days of consistent use, not weeks.
It’s also excellent for winter skin: chapped lips, cracked knuckles, dry nostrils, cracked cuticles, and the kind of windburn that comes from spending time outside in cold, dry air. If your skin feels parched and tight in winter, this is the cream.
I also recommend it for sunburn — not the acute, blistering kind, but the dry, peeling aftermath when your skin is trying to repair itself and desperately needs moisture. Apply a thin layer after cooling the skin, and it noticeably speeds up the comfort and recovery phase.

Who This Is For?

  • Psoriasis
  • Cracked heels and calluses
  • Severely dry hands, fingers, cuticles
  • Dry, cracked nostrils in winter
  • Windburn and sun-dryness recovery
  • Anyone who has tried “regular” moisturizers and been consistently disappointed
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Diaper Plus Skin Soother

Best for: Diaper rash, yeasty or fungal rashes, hot skin folds, angry red skin of any kind
The name says “diaper,” but don’t let that limit your thinking. This product is for any hot, angry, red, inflamed skin — it just happens to be formulated in a way that’s also completely safe for babies and cloth diapers (no staining, no buildup, cloth-diaper safe).
The key distinction with this product is the type of skin problem it addresses: hot, damp, reactive skin. Think skin folds, the groin, underarms, anywhere that traps moisture and heat. This is the formula for rashes that look red and irritated, rashes that smell funky, and rashes in areas where yeast or fungal overgrowth is a factor.

When to Choose Diaper Plus Over the Original

This is one of the most common points of confusion, so I want to be clear about it:
– If your eczema is dry, flaky, and itchy — reach for the original Emily Skin Soother
– If your eczema is hot, red, weeping, or inflamed — reach for the Diaper Plus.
The Diaper Plus has herbs specifically chosen for their cooling, antimicrobial, and antifungal properties. That makes it the right tool for the “angry” type of eczema, not the dry type.
For swimmers, this is also a standout product. Swimmer’s rash — that hot, irritated reaction from prolonged chlorine exposure in warm, damp areas — responds beautifully to this formula.

Who This Is For

  • Diaper rash (cloth diaper safe)
  • Any red, hot, inflamed rash in damp areas
  • Skin folds, groin, underarms
  • Swimmer’s rash
  • Yeast or fungal-type rashes
  • Hot, angry eczema flares
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Hot Skin Soother

Best for: Adult sweat rashes, burns, fungal skin issues, hot inflamed skin, sore muscle massage
Think of the Hot Skin Soother as the adult version of the Diaper Plus — same core idea (cooling, antimicrobial, antifungal herbs), but slightly tweaked for adult skin concerns. It contains herbs that promote circulation and cooling, as well as antifungal and antimicrobial compounds.
One thing that makes this product stand out from the rest of the line: some of the herbs are analgesic. They actually reduce discomfort from skin irritation. That means it doesn’t just address the appearance of irritated skin — it helps with the pain and burning sensation too. This makes it useful beyond rashes: it works as a massage balm for sore muscles in areas where you’d also benefit from its antimicrobial qualities.

When to choose Hot Skin Soother

Sunburns and windburns are a strong use case. The cooling herbs calm the heat quickly, and unlike many after-sun products that contain alcohol or fragrance, this one won’t sting on already-angry skin.
For anyone who deals with sweat-related skin issues — heat rash, chafing, rashes in high-friction areas — this is the product. The antimicrobial herbs address the bacterial component that often contributes to chronic skin problems in those areas, while the cooling herbs bring down the inflammation.
Fungal and bacterial skin issues like athlete’s foot, ringworm, or recurring skin infections in warm, damp areas also respond well here.

Who This Is For

  • Sweat rashes and heat rash (adults)
  • Sunburn and windburn
  • Fungal and bacterial skin problems
  • Skin fold irritation (groin, underarms, under-breast)
  • Chafing and friction rashes
  • Sore muscle massage in affected areas
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Mild Bar Soap & Mild Liquid Soap Soother

Best for: Daily cleansing for sensitive, dry, eczema-prone, or psoriasis-prone skin
I wrote a full blog on these two products recently, so I’ll keep it brief here — but they deserve a place in this guide because they’re an essential part of the Emily Skin Soother system.
Here’s the core principle: if you’re using Emily Skin Soother salves and balms to heal your skin, but you’re washing daily with a harsh, SLS-laden body wash, you’re undoing your own work. Soap is something you do every single day. What you do most of the time matters more than what you do some of the time.
The mild soap line was built to complement the balms — to clean without stripping the skin barrier that everything else is trying to rebuild.
Both soaps are unscented, emollient, and herb-powered. They won’t sting on eczema or sunburned skin. They clean without drying — which matters a lot for conditions like cracked heels and dry feet where the cleanser itself is often making things worse.
Choose the Bar Soap if you prefer a classic lather, want the simplest formula, and want palm oil-free construction.
Choose the Liquid Soap if you want a head-to-toe daily wash with a super-fatted formula that leaves skin feeling more moisturized after washing.
Both are appropriate for children. Both pair beautifully with the salves.
Bar Soap
Liquid Soap Soother

Furry Friend Shampoo & Furry Friend Skin Soother

Best for: Dogs and cats with hot spots, itchy skin, allergies, lick sores, sensitive or reactive skin
I’ll be honest — I didn’t expect to carry pet products when I started Valley Health Marketplace. But Mike Arsenault’s Furry Friend line earned a place on our shelves the same way all our products do: it works, it’s made with the same integrity as everything else in the line, and it fills a real need.
Our pets get many of the same skin conditions we do. Hot spots, seasonal allergies, itchy patches, lick sores, happy tail (the raw, irritated tip of a wagging tail that just keeps re-injuring itself) — these are common, frustrating problems that often get treated with steroids or antifungals when a gentler herbal approach can be just as effective.

What Makes These Products Different

Both the shampoo and the skin soother are unscented — intentionally. A dog’s sense of smell is roughly 40 times more sensitive than ours. Heavily fragranced pet products can be genuinely unpleasant for animals. The Furry Friend products are scented only by their raw herbal ingredients, which is subtle and not overwhelming to a sensitive animal nose.
They’re also **lick-safe**, which matters enormously for any product going on a dog or cat. Animals groom themselves and lick their skin — whatever you put on them, they’re going to ingest some of it. These formulas are safe for that.
The line is carried by holistic veterinarians, which is the kind of endorsement I take seriously. These aren’t novelty pet products; they’re real herbal medicine formulated for animal skin.

Who This Is For

  • Dogs or cats with hot spots
  • Pets with seasonal allergies and itchy skin
  • Lick sores and raw areas from over-grooming
  • Happy tail
  • Sensitive or reactive skin from any cause
  • Pet owners who want a gentler, herb-based alternative to steroid creams
Furry Shampoo
Furry Skin Soother

How to Layer Products for Best Results

One of the things I love most about the Emily Skin Soother line is that the products work together. You don’t have to pick just one. Here are some combinations I recommend regularly:

For eczema that has both dry and hot phases:

Use the original Emily Skin Soother during calm periods and the Diaper Plus or Hot Skin Soother during flares. Your skin condition isn’t static — your product choice doesn’t have to be either.

For daily skin care routine:

Wash with the Mild Bar or Liquid Soap, pat dry while still slightly damp, then apply your salve while the moisture is still in the skin. This sequence supports barrier repair at every step.

For psoriasis:

Super Dry Skin Soother as your primary moisturizer, Mild Soap for cleansing. Consistent daily use matters more than occasional heavy application.

For pets:

Shampoo with the Furry Friend Shampoo, dry well, then apply the Furry Friend Skin Soother to problem areas. For hot spots, apply the soother multiple times daily to the affected area.

The One Question That Points You to the Right Product

Is your skin primarily dry and itchy, or primarily hot and inflamed?

Dry and itchy

Start with the original Emily Skin Soother (unscented or lavender)

Extremely dry and scaly

Super Dry Skin Soother

Hot, red, and angry — in a damp area

Diaper Plus Skin Soother

Hot, red, and angry — adult skin, burns, fungal

Hot Skin Soother

Most people find that once they nail that distinction, the right product becomes obvious. And if you’re still unsure, reach out. I’m happy to help you figure it out.
Emily Skin Soothers earned their place at Valley Health Marketplace the same way every product we carry does: I used them, I tested them in my clinic, and I watched them work. Mike Arsenault built this line with the same philosophy I practice — simple, quality ingredients, traditional herbal knowledge, and genuine care about outcomes.
The right product for you comes down to knowing your skin. Dry and itchy gets the original. Hot and inflamed gets the Diaper Plus or Hot Skin Soother. Severely parched gets the Super Dry. And whatever salve or balm you choose, pair it with the Mild Soap for a cleansing routine that works with your healing instead of against it.
If you have questions or want a personal recommendation, I’m always reachable at will@valleyhealthclinic.com or (541) 760-9670. That’s part of what Valley Health Marketplace is — not just a store, but someone who actually knows these products and wants you to find the right one.

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Will Sheppy, Founder and Acupuncturist at Valley Health Clinic
By Will Sheppy, L.Ac
Will Sheppy, L.Ac., is the founder of Valley Health Clinic and Valley Health Marketplace in Albany, Oregon. He specializes in sports acupuncture, pain management, and Chinese topical medicine. Valley Health Marketplace carries only products he has personally tested in his clinic.

FAQ's

Can I use more than one Emily Skin Soother product?
Absolutely. Many people use the original for general maintenance and switch to the Hot Skin Soother or Diaper Plus during flares. The products are designed to work together.
Yes — the full line (except the pet products) is formulated to be gentle enough for children, including babies. The Diaper Plus is specifically safe for infants. If your child has severe or infected eczema, consult your pediatrician.
No. Emily Skin Soothers are herb-based with simple, clean ingredient lists. They do not contain steroids, synthetic fragrances, or harsh chemicals.
The Super Dry Skin Soother is my first recommendation for psoriasis. Pair it with the Mild Soap for cleansing.
Yes — both the shampoo and skin soother are formulated for dogs and cats. The lick-safe formula is particularly important for cats, who groom constantly.
Herbal topicals work best with consistent daily use. Give any new product at least two to three weeks before evaluating results. If your skin is worsening rather than improving, or if you see signs of infection, please see a clinician.

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A Mild Soap Worth Recommending

Posted on February 25, 2026 by - Skin Health and Beauty

  • Verified
14 minutes read

A Mild Soap Worth Recommending

Will Sheppy, Founder and Acupuncturist at Valley Health Clinic
Willard Sheppy Dipl. OM, LAc, BS

Willard Sheppy is a licensed acupuncturist (LAc) and Founder of Valley Health Clinic specializing in using Traditional Chinese Medicine to treat acute injuries and chronic conditions, and to improve sports performance and rehabilitation.

Table of Contents

By Will Sheppy, L.Ac

I didn’t want to sell Mild soap.
That’s the honest truth. When I started Valley Health Marketplace, I was focused on topical Chinese medicine — liniments, salves, herbal oils for pain. Soap felt like a completely different category, and I wasn’t interested in adding it just to have more stuff on the shelf.
Then my daughters started telling me their skin itched and turned red after every shower.
And it wasn’t like we were using cheap, dollar-store soap. We had decent products. But decent wasn’t cutting it. And that moment forced me to think about something I say to patients all the time when it comes to pain management:
What you do most of the time is more important than what you do some of the time.
I say that about exercise, diet, topical medicine. But I had never applied it to skin care. Soap is something most of us use every single day. If you’re trying to heal your skin — eczema, dryness, irritation, nerve sensitivity — and your daily cleanser is quietly making things worse, you’re fighting yourself twice a day, every day.
That realization sent me looking for a truly mild soap. And that search led me to Mike Arsenault and Emily Skin Soothers.

What "Mild Soap" Actually Means (And Why Most Soaps Miss the Mark)

Before I get into the specific products I now carry, I want to explain what mild soap actually means — not from a marketing perspective, but from a skin science perspective.
Your skin has an outer layer called the stratum corneum — think of it as a brick wall made of lipids and proteins. Its job is to hold moisture in and keep irritants and pathogens out. When this barrier is healthy, your skin feels soft, resilient, and calm. When it’s compromised — which is the baseline for people with eczema, psoriasis, rosacea, or chronically dry skin — your skin becomes reactive, itchy, and hard to heal.
A truly mild soap is one that cleans without stripping that barrier. Research published in the International Journal of Cosmetic Science confirms that traditional soaps can significantly disrupt the skin barrier, raise skin pH, and leave residue that continues to irritate after rinsing — especially in people with already-compromised skin. Milder cleansing formulations (sometimes called syndets, or carefully formulated natural soaps) are consistently preferred for reactive or damaged skin.
The problem is that most commercial soaps — even ones labeled “sensitive” or “gentle” — still contain ingredients that undermine barrier health:

Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS):

A well-studied irritant surfactant. Research published in Contact Dermatitis has shown that even brief, repeated SLS exposure can disrupt the skin barrier and provoke irritant dermatitis in susceptible individuals. If your skin is already reactive, this is the last thing you want in a daily cleanser.

Added fragrances:

One of the most common skin sensitizers. Fragrance is in hundreds of personal care products, and for someone with eczema or rosacea, it's often an invisible trigger.

Hot water and long showers:

This one isn't about ingredients, but it matters. Research confirms that prolonged hot water exposure increases transepidal water loss (TEWL), dryness, and barrier stress. A mild soap used incorrectly — in a long, hot shower — still causes damage.

if your skin flares up every time you shower, your cleanser is probably part of the problem. Changing to a genuinely mild soap can be one of the highest-impact, most repeatable changes you make for your skin — precisely because you do it every single day.

Why I Trust Emily Skin Soothers

Mike Arsenault didn’t set out to sell soap either. He developed Emily Skin Soothers because his own daughters had eczema and nothing on the market worked well enough. Sound familiar?
What I noticed immediately when I received my first order was the smell. It didn’t smell like soap. It didn’t smell like fragrance. It smelled fresh — like quality raw ingredients. That might sound like a small thing, but when you work with herbal products daily, you know the difference between a product that smells like its ingredients and one that smells like what someone sprayed on top of the ingredients. This was the former.
Mike also has an extraordinary track record. His reviews speak for themselves — people healing skin conditions all across the country. And as someone who uses Chinese herbal medicine in my clinic every day, I can see exactly why his formulas work. He’s pulling from the same tradition I practice, applying herbs that have thousands of years of use for reactive, inflamed skin.
I now carry two of his products: the Mild Bar Soap and the Mild Liquid Soap Soother. Let me walk you through both.

Emily Skin Soother: Mild Bar Soap

Size: 4 oz | Skin Type: Sensitive, dry, reactive | Palm Oil Free
This is the bar I reach for when people ask me about a mild soap for eczema or a mild soap for sensitive skin. It’s formulated around a simple principle: what you leave out matters as much as what you put in.

What's Not in It

No added fragrances. No added colors. No unnecessary fillers. No palm oil.
The palm oil decision is worth mentioning. About 85% of global palm oil comes from Indonesia and Malaysia, where production is linked to deforestation, habitat destruction, and the endangerment of orangutans and Sumatran tigers. Mike made the decision to go completely palm oil-free — not because it changes outcomes for most skin types, but because of where he stands ethically. I respect that. So do my customers.

What Is in It

The cleansing base is saponified olive, avocado, and coconut oils, plus shea butter. It’s a simple formula designed to clean without stripping. You’ll notice a gentle, natural scent — that’s coming from the raw ingredients, not from anything added.
The bar is also powered by three traditional Chinese herbs — the same trio used in Emily’s Baby and Adult Skin Soother salves:The cleansing base is saponified olive, avocado, and coconut oils, plus shea butter. It’s a simple formula designed to clean without stripping. You’ll notice a gentle, natural scent — that’s coming from the raw ingredients, not from anything added.
  • Dang Gui (Angelica sinensis): Nourishes and soothes the skin. Used in Chinese dermatology for thousands of years.
  • Bei Zi Cao (Potentillae Chinensis / Wei Ling Cai): A rare herb that Mike specifically chose for its ability to calm reactive skin and alleviate itch — one of the biggest drivers of the itch-scratch cycle in eczema.
  • Bo He (Mentha haplocalyx / mint): Gently cools and soothes.
Mike told me directly: “Bei Zi Cao is rarely used and is great to clear toxic heat and especially alleviate itch — which is a real issue in eczema.” When a maker knows their herbs at that level of specificity, you’re not dealing with someone who just threw popular ingredients into a bottle. You’re dealing with a craftsperson.

Who It's For

  • Eczema-prone skin
  • Dry, reactive, or sensitive skin
  • Psoriasis and rosacea
  • Anyone tired of itchy, red skin after every shower
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Emily Skin Soother: Mild Liquid Soap Soother

Size: 8 fl oz | Certified Organic | Head-to-Toe Free of: Parabens · SLS · Fragrances · Added Colors
If the bar soap is for your morning routine, the liquid soap is your everything-wash. It’s certified organic, head-to-toe safe, and built around a feature you almost never see in liquid cleansers: it’s super-fatted.

What "Super-Fatted" Actually Means

In traditional soap making, super-fatting means adding extra oils back into the finished product — oils that don’t saponify (convert to soap) but instead remain in the formula as free emollients. The result is a wash that leaves your skin feeling moisturized and silky instead of tight and dry.
You’ll notice that over time, the oils may settle to the bottom of the bottle. This is not a defect. It’s the mechanism. Shake before use.

The Formula

The base is saponified organic coconut, olive, and jojoba oils, plus organic aloe vera — a genuinely moisturizing foundation. No SLS. No parabens. No added fragrance or color. For people with reactive or eczema-prone skin, removing those ingredients from a daily wash is a significant shift.
The liquid also contains four skin herbs (a different blend from the bar, intentionally, so you have options if you have sensitivities to specific botanicals):
  • Shu Di Huang (Rehmannia Root): Widely used in herbal dermatology, both internally and topically. Cooling and deeply nourishing.
  • Dang Gui (Angelica Sinensis Root): Supports skin healing and circulation.
  • Pu Gong Ying (Dandelion): Clears heat and redness, supports skin clarity, has antimicrobial properties.
  • Bo He (Field Mint): Gently cools and soothes.

Who It's For

  • People who prefer a liquid cleanser over bar soap
  • Head-to-toe daily washing for sensitive or eczema-prone skin
  • Anyone with very dry skin who wants a wash with more emollient feel
  • Psoriasis, rosacea, rashes, sunburned skin
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How to Get the Most Out of Your Mild Soap

Changing your cleanser is step one. How you wash matters just as much.

Use warm water, not hot.

Hot water stresses the skin barrier and increases moisture loss. Warm is enough.

Keep your shower shorter.

Long showers strip oils, even with mild soap. This isn't folk wisdom — it's barrier biology.

Focus soap where you need it.

For many people with eczema or dry skin, you don't need to lather every inch of your body with soap every day. Use cleanser on the high-soil areas (hands, underarms, groin, feet) and rinse the rest with water.

Pat dry, don't rub.

Rubbing is mechanical irritation on skin that's already reactive.

Moisturize while skin is still damp.

This is the move that makes the biggest difference. Apply your salve or balm while your skin still has a little moisture — it locks water in and helps the barrier rebuild.

Patch test when trying anything new.

Apply a small amount to a healthy, uninfected patch of skin. Wait. Repeat a few times before applying to problem areas.

How Mild Soap Fits Into Your Topical Routine

One of the reasons I finally decided to carry soap was this: I was seeing patients use our herbal salves and get great results, then unknowingly undo a lot of that work by washing with a harsh cleanser the next morning.

Our topicals — Evil Bone Water, Corydalis Relief Salve, Dragon Blood Balm, Red Emperor’s Immortal Flame — are formulated to support and heal tissue. But they work best when paired with a cleanser that respects the barrier rather than dismantling it daily.

Think of it as protecting your investment. Every time you use a great salve and then follow it with a stripping, SLS-loaded body wash, you’re starting over. Emily Skin Soothers’ mild soaps are designed specifically to complement and enhance the effects of topical medicine.

The Research Behind What We're Doing

I mentioned this above, but I want to be specific, because I think it matters that this approach is backed by science, not just tradition:
Research from the International Journal of Cosmetic Science (PMC) confirms that traditional soaps disrupt the skin barrier, raise skin pH, and leave post-rinse residue that continues to irritate compromised skin. Mild cleansers — particularly those without harsh surfactants — show significantly better outcomes for barrier integrity in reactive and eczema-prone skin.
Research published in Contact Dermatitis (PubMed) specifically demonstrates that SLS causes measurable skin barrier disruption even with brief, repeated exposure. If your daily soap contains SLS and your skin is already reactive, you are applying a documented irritant every single day.
Removing those triggers from your daily routine, and replacing them with a genuinely mild, barrier-aware soap, is one of the most practical and impactful steps you can take.

Mild Bar Soap

A mild cleanser for sensitive skin that actually respects your skin barrier. This palm oil-free bar is formulated to be noticeably less drying than standard soaps, with a simple base of saponified olive, avocado, and coconut oils plus rich shea butter. It was designed to pair perfectly with our salves, so your skin feels clean without feeling “stripped.”
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Read More from Valley Health:

Blue Skies Bliss Mist Face Spray – water-based Hydrating mist for refreshing and

Herbal Ice – Cooling topical for acute injuries, swelling, and heat-type pain. Use instead of Ice.

Botanical Beauty Combo – Both Water and Oil Herbal skincare set for natural beauty and skin nourishment

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Will Sheppy, Founder and Acupuncturist at Valley Health Clinic
By Will Sheppy, L.Ac
Will Sheppy, L.Ac., is the founder of Valley Health Clinic and Valley Health Marketplace in Albany, Oregon. He specializes in sports acupuncture, pain management, and Chinese topical medicine. Valley Health Marketplace carries only products he has personally tested in his clinic.

FAQ's

Mild Soap
Is mild soap actually better for eczema than regular soap?
For most people with eczema or reactive skin, yes — because it reduces daily barrier disruption, which reduces itch, dryness, and flare cycles. The research consistently supports using gentle, fragrance-free, SLS-free cleansers for compromised skin.
It depends on your routine and preferences. Choose the bar if you want a very simple formula with no extras, palm oil-free construction, and you prefer a classic lather. Choose the liquid if you want a head-to-toe wash, love the aloe base, or have very dry skin that benefits from the super-fatted formula.
Because it’s super-fatted — extra oils are intentionally added and they settle over time. This is not a flaw. Shake before use.
Yes. Both the bar and liquid are gentle enough for use on sunburned skin — wash with lukewarm water, minimal friction, and pat dry immediately after.
Both formulas are appropriate for sensitive pediatric skin. For infants or children with severe eczema, discuss your cleanser choice with a pediatric clinician.
Mild soap is ideal here — it cleans without worsening dryness. Pair it with a good balm applied immediately after washing while skin is still damp, and you’ll notice a significant difference over time.
I say it in my clinic all the time: what you do most of the time is more important than what you do some of the time. I had just never applied that to soap.
If your skin itches or flares after every shower, your cleanser is part of the problem. Switching to a genuinely mild soap — one with no SLS, no added fragrance, no unnecessary irritants, and a formula built around barrier support — is one of the most repeatable, high-impact changes you can make, because it happens every single day.
That’s why I carry Emily Skin Soothers. Not because I wanted to sell more products. But because good medicine is daily medicine — and that includes how you wash.
Mild Bar Soap
Mild Liquid Soap Soother