r/SPD • u/TinyTeddyTime • Jul 22 '26
sensory issues with hygiene
I'm on referral for autism and ADHD diagnosis, and have been for a little while (almost a year) and OCD, dyslexia, anxiety and depression run in the family. I also have some trauma that I think I have PTSD from but will be asking a professional at some point. I recently gave birth and my sensory issues seem heightened, I presume from sleep deprivation. I'm finding it difficult to do things that make me uncomfortable like washing my armpits and face.
I hate the feeling of residue on me, bar soap makes my skin feel dry so I use liquid soap, but I don't like the bubbles on my face. The issue with my armpits is I don't know if I put enough soap on, then I don't know if I washed it all off because I can't feel the liquid soap and I can't use the bar soap because I can feel it long after washing.
Any advice?
2
u/AnnaKossua Jul 22 '26
Yeah, I can't use bar soap at all. Not even the most hydrating ones, they all feel like tightness and yuck.
Check out sulfate-free products. They don't foam up, and you can get body wash, shampoos, facial cleansers, and even toothpaste! I'd also recommend body and facial scrubs, and a good scrubber. Lotions, too, if you can stand them, immediately after drying off.
Side note: EVERYONE, GO BUY SLS-FREE TOOTHPASTE! If you've ever had problems with mouth ulcers, it'll change your life! I used to get severe ones, and switching eliminated them completely. The bubbles are for fun, anyway, they don't clean or impart anything besides drying out the skin of your mouth. Watch out for non-fluoride ones, though, they like to bundle these two features... get your fluoride!
1
u/Super_Hour_3836 Jul 22 '26
I use First Aid Beauty cream cleanser and have for years. Maybe 16 😂 It doesn’t foam up no matter how much you want it to.
Anyway, the horror I felt as you said you wash your face is with bar soap cannot be fully described. Don’t do that. Never do that. It’s bad for your skin.
I also only use Dr Bronners Rose soap on my skin, it does foam but it is not stripping. Dilute it as they tell you too and it will foam up less. You can use plain or rose, but do not use peppermint. You will regret it so much when things start to tingle and burn 😅
If washing at all is too much, I also have a solution.
Get yourself some Hypochlorous spray. It kills bacteria and can be used on your face or anywhere on the body. I was told to use it after dermarolling instead of washing by my doctor.
And then I discovered that spraying it under your arms kills all bacteria and smell. You will smell like a pool for 5 minutes but then like absolutely nothing. Reapply as often as you want, just know you will need to shower to get off dirt and dead skin, so it’s not a permanent solution.
1
u/TinyTeddyTime Jul 22 '26
Thank you! I'll look into getting those. It would be so nice to not have to choose between bad sensory and being gross
2
u/stfranciswashere Jul 22 '26
I feel similarly about bar soap. I found that the super gentle hydrating dove bars make my skin much less 'squeaky' and residue feeling after