This very morning, my sister looked me right in the eye and asked me why I’ve been talking about eczema so much. What can I tell you, girl? It’s winter, which means it’s dry out, which means everyone’s skin is close to crisis—especially those with dry skin-triggered inflammatory skin conditions

I’d say it was time to throw up the SOS signal, but it’s already been flashing. And, per usual, Tower 28 is here to save our skin.

On Monday, December 29, Tower 28 is launching SOS Rescue + Relief Body Wash, a derm-approved, hypoallergenic, pH-balanced treatment that they describe as “a medicated bath in a bottle.” Keep reading to discover everything there is to know about the much-needed product, including insight from the brand’s founder and CEO, Amy Liu.

The Inspiration

Did you know dermatologists sometimes recommend bleach baths for adult eczema? Liu does, and feels as intimidated by the prospect as everyone else who’s received the suggestion. Yes, they’re effective—but you’re paying for results with a major lack of comfort.

“I’ll be honest, I never actually did them because they felt so intimidating. The idea of pouring bleach into a tub and hoping it wouldn’t make things worse just didn’t sit right with me,” she tells Byrdie.

This personal experience led the founder to design something better: a product that could offer those same clinically proven results in a super gentle and easy-to-use format.

“I kept thinking there had to be an easier and less scary way. That’s what inspired SOS Rescue + Relief Body Wash. I wanted to take an ingredient that is clinically proven to support sensitive, easily irritated skin, like sodium hypochlorite, and turn it into a simple and comforting shower routine rather than something that feels clinical or overwhelming,” the founder explains. “You only leave it on for two or three minutes while you’re washing your hair or shaving, and you get the benefit of real cleansing too since we added surfactants. It’s so much more convenient than soaking in a tub for ten minutes.”

The Formula

Arriving with a Triple Seal Approval from the National Eczema Association, National Rosacea Society, and National Psoriasis Foundation, the product was formulated to soothe and strengthen while cleansing like a normal body wash. There’s no sitting in bleach required, but one of bleach’s main ingredients does make an appearance. It’s not scary, promise.

Instead, the formula is equipped with sodium hypochlorite, a longtime medical professional-trusted ingredient that helps kill bacteria and prevent its spread while calming skin prone to eczema, rosacea, and psoriasis.

Liu is proud of her company’s use of the ingredient, especially how they made it feel “approachable and comforting” instead of “clinical or scary.”

“It’s a component of bleach and closely related to hypochlorous acid, but when it’s properly diluted and paired with soothing ingredients, it becomes this incredibly gentle way to cleanse the skin without drying or stripping,” she explains. “Dermatologists have recommended it for years to help remove bacteria, daily buildup, and impurities.”

“To take something so trusted and package it in a way that feels simple, safe, and actually enjoyable to use is really meaningful to me,” she adds. “And the fact that the formula earned seals from the National Eczema Association, the National Rosacea Society, and the National Psoriasis Foundation makes me feel like we did right by our sensitive-skin community.”

You’ll also find a couple of impressive plant extracts. Apple fruit extract helps skin retain moisture and protects against free radicals while cactus flower extract improves texture and deeply hydrates. When the brand first started formulating the product, Liu’s number one rule was that it had to be something she’d feel comfortable using during her worst flare-ups, when her skin was cracked, burning, and extra-reactive.

“That meant keeping it extremely gentle, pH-balanced, hypoallergenic, gynecologist-tested (so it’s safe to use on intimate areas) and free of anything that could set sensitive skin off,” notes the expert. “At the same time, it needed to be truly effective, not just ‘clean.’”

How to Use It

I probably don’t know how to teach you to apply body wash, but there is one key difference with this product. After applying it all over the body and massaging to lather, you’ll leave it on for two to three minutes before rinsing. It can be used daily, and 97% of clinical testers (including those with acne-prone skin!) found they experienced less skin flakiness, no burning or stinging while using, and more hydrated skin when they added it to their routine.

“I want people to step out of the shower feeling relieved—like their skin has finally met something that gets it,” explains Liu. “My hope is that using this wash feels empowering, not clinical or scary. If someone with sensitive skin can feel calmer, more comfortable, and a little more in control after using it, then we did our job.”