Whether you have a serious skin condition, more sensitive skin than most people, or just normal skin, you've probably wondered more than once if the chemicals in soap are bad for you and if there are more natural ways to clean yourself.

As is usually the case, there's good news and bad news about this. The bad news is that most of the caustic chemicals used to make soap and the many others added to make foam, keep the product from breaking down, and make it smell nice can be bad for the skin and deeper tissues, especially if they are used for a long time.

As you may have guessed, the good news is that there are natural soap alternatives that can clean just as well as regular soap but don't have any of the bad side effects, which is great for people with sensitive skin. Here are 5 harmful chemicals in your soaps.

Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS)

SLS is a very common surfactant that is found in many soaps and other body and home cleaning products. Surfactants do two things: they make foam and they clean by getting rid of fat, oil, and grease.

Also called Sodium Laureth Sulfate, and not to be confused with the milder Sodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate, SLS has been linked to skin irritations and allergic reactions like eczematous dermatitis. It bonds with other common soap ingredients to make carcinogenic nitrosamines, which are on the list of known human carcinogens and endocrine disruptors in California's Proposition 65.

Most soaps on the market today have SLS in them, which is one of the main reasons why they can damage and irritate even mildly sensitive skin.

SLS is also found in almost all store-bought toothpaste brands and a wide range of other hygiene and cosmetics products. If you want to avoid harmful chemicals in soap, SLS should be one of the first ingredients you look for.

1,4 Dioxane

1,4 Dioxane is another common contaminant found in many cosmetics and personal care products, as well as in good old Prop 65.

This chemical is on the list of possible human and animal carcinogens. Research has shown that it is easy to get through the skin and that too much of it can be harmful to the organs.

The worst thing about this common chemical in soap is that it isn't listed anywhere. Because 1,4 dioxane is a byproduct of the manufacturing process and not an ingredient in its own right, the FDA does not require it to be listed on labels.

Through a process called ethoxylation, chemicals like SLS, PEG compounds, and others with the clauses xynol, ceteareth, and oleth can combine to make it.

One way to avoid 1,4 Dioxane is to watch out for ingredients with the above-mentioned words in their names. We think the best way to take care of yourself is to use only natural and/or dermatologist-tested products.

Parabens

Parabens are used to keep soap from going bad and to make it last longer. They are often found in soap, shampoo, cosmetics, shave cream, and a lot of processed foods and medicines.

Propylparaben, butylparaben, and methylparaben are the most common types of this chemical, according to the FDA. However, any ingredient with the word "paraben" or the name "parahydroxybenzoate" in it should set off alarm bells.

Studies show that parabens can mess with hormones and hurt fertility, reproductive organs, and birth outcomes. They can also make it more likely that you'll get some types of cancer. Even if you don't end up in one of those terrible worst-case scenarios, parabens can still irritate your skin.

You can click here for more info on parabens and how soaps that contain parabens and sulfate can harm your skin.  Lucky for us, all it takes is a quick Google search to find soap and other personal care products without parabens. 

Triclosan

Triclosan is a pesticide that kills both bacteria and fungi. In EWG's Skin Deep Cosmetics Database, it has a hazard rating of 7, and even in low concentrations, it has been linked to changes in thyroid hormone levels and problems with the endocrine system. It is also called an irritant to the skin, eyes, and lungs.

Triclosan was taken out of antibacterial and antifungal soaps in 2016. But for some reason that most of us will never understand, it is still allowed to be used in shampoos, deodorants, and toothpaste, among other everyday products.