Dr Hilary Jones, 65, regularly appears on daytime television advising on everything from prostate cancer to how to get better sleep.
But with all the detergents, air-conditioning and central heating drying out our skin and making it more sensitive, teaching people how to protect it, including how to deal with clothes in the laundry, has become a regular practice.
Dr Hilary told Express.co.uk: “We use detergents, soaps, bubble baths a huge amount in our society, and what they all have in common is they tend to leach out the natural oils in the skin that keeps is supple and moist.
“We all need to wash, but using detergents that don’t irritate the skin so much is a good idea, particularly if you have sensitive skin.”
So what should you look for to indicate you have sensitive skin and need to switch to non-bio detergent?
Dr Hilary explained that as we get older, our skin tends to become more sensitive.
He said: “Our skin naturally becomes rougher to the touch, we start to develop little benign growths, skin tags, age spots on the back of the hands, and we have a tendency to bruise easier.
“Signs of sensitive skin include skin feeling less elastic, transparent, our skin seems more fragile, we tend to lose a bit of the fat under the skin, and we feel the cold more.
“One of the most common signs is feeling itchy all over.”
We might not be able to easily change the amount of elastic under the skin, but we can protect it from becoming dry and rough – particularly through the washing powder we use.
Dr Hilary said: “Biological washing powder uses enzymes to digest things that stain clothes. In turn this can have a digestion and irritant action on the skin.
“For this reason, using a non-bio powder as we get older makes good sense.”
The working GP adds that it’s very important people think about the clothes they wear, the washing up products they’re washing their clothes in and anything else they’re putting on their skin.
He said: “My niece is allergic to eggs, cow’s milk and nuts quite severely, but it definitely improved on non-bio washing powder.
“It may not work for everybody, but for many people just thinking about the kinds of things you’re putting on your skin can make a significant difference.”
To help spread the importance of what detergent you should use if you have sensitive skin, Dr Hilary has teamed up with Fairy Non-Bio.
He said: “I am delighted to be helping Fairy Non-Bio spread the word as they have come up with an excellent formula, endorsed by the Skin Health Alliance, which cleans clothes whilst keeping the fabric smooth and soft and is super- sympathetic to sensitive skin.
Their campaign to make people more aware of how their skin changes with age and what we can do to protect it something I’m happy to help them with”.
Eczema falls under the category of sensitivity skin conditions.
