By Julie Chen, Co-Founder & CEO, Cheeky Panda
When I became a parent, I never expected toilet paper to become such a topic of discussion in my family.
But when my son Leo developed eczema as a young child, it changed the way I thought about everyday products. Suddenly, things I had never paid much attention to became important: the fabrics he wore, the washing products we used, and even the tissues, toilet paper and wipes that touched his skin every day.
Like any parent searching "best [insert everyday use product here] for sensitive skin" at 11pm, Chris and I found ourselves asking a simple question: why do so many everyday products contain ingredients or involve processes that can irritate the people who use them every day?
Here's what I've learned as both a parent and the person who now runs a household paper brand.
Can toilet paper actually irritate sensitive skin?
Yes. Toilet paper is one of the most repeated points of skin contact in a household, used multiple times a day, every day. Two things tend to drive irritation:
Fibre roughness. Cheaper or lower-grade pulp can lead to more abrasive paper, which, when used multiple times daily, can be a problem for those with sensitive skin.
Dust. Lower-quality toilet paper can shed significant dust, which may irritate sensitive skin.
Chemical processing. Some papers are treated with de-inking agents, dyes, or added fragrance to make them look brighter or smell different. For skin that's reactive, eczema-prone, allergy-prone, or just naturally sensitive, these additions are often the trigger, not the paper itself.
This is why "soft" and "gentle" aren't the same thing. A product can feel soft and still irritate skin because of what's in it, not just how it's woven.
What should you actually look for in tissue and toilet paper for sensitive skin?
Based on what parents and sensitive-skin customers tell us they're checking for, and they find makes the biggest difference day-to-day, the shortlist is:
- Fragrance-free or unscented: added scent is one of the most common irritants in paper products. Dermatologist generally recommend avoiding fragrances in toilet paper and other paper products intended for skin contact.
- PFAS-free / BPA-free: a recent report highlights that some big-brand toilet papers contain forever chemicals. Look for brands and products tested PFAS-free, as is the case for Cheeky Panda’s toilet paper and tissues ranges.
- A soft, natural fibre source: bamboo fibre is naturally soft and strong, and requires less harsh processing than some recycled pulp.
- No unnecessary "extras": lotions, colouring, and print inks on toilet paper all add something to skin contact that doesn't need to be there.
These are fairly simple materials and manufacturing questions that every household paper brand should be able to answer clearly, so you can make the best choice for your family.
Is bamboo toilet paper good for sensitive or eczema-prone skin?
Bamboo fibre is naturally soft and doesn't need the same level of chemical processing that some other pulp sources do to feel comfortable. That's part of why we built Cheeky Panda toilet paper around 100% bamboo in the first place. It let us prioritise softness without leaning on the additives that can cause irritation.
I want to be clear here, though: no toilet paper or tissue brand can claim to treat or prevent a skin condition like eczema. What a thoughtfully made product can do is remove one potential source of daily irritation from a routine that already has enough variables (detergents, fabrics, weather etc. can all lead to flare-ups).
If you or your child have diagnosed eczema or a skin condition, patch-test any new product and check in with a dermatologist or GP.
What Leo taught me
Leo's eczema taught me that irritation often comes from the accumulation of small things, not one obvious cause. We learned to pay attention to clothing materials, detergents, bathing routines, and yes, the products used around the home.
No single change was a miracle fix. It was about reducing sources of potential irritation wherever we reasonably could.
That experience shaped my thinking as an entrepreneur. When I started Cheeky Panda, I wanted to build products that were soft, effective and thoughtfully made for people who might have more sensitive needs, because when you've watched your child struggle with irritated skin, you realise comfort isn't a luxury. It matters.
Why does this matter beyond my family?
Sensitive skin isn't a niche concern. Millions of people deal with dryness, irritation, eczema, or allergic reactions at some point, either occasionally or as an ongoing condition. And a lot of the skin contact situation that needs to be addressed doesn't come from creams or cleansers. It comes from the everyday essentials: toilet paper, facial tissue, sanitary products etc., that most people don’t have the option to not use, and therefore have to use repeatedly, every day and month.
From my own experience both as a mum and an entrepreneur with whom customers frequently share feedback, I’m convinced that small differences in fibre quality, processing, and design compound over weeks and months of daily use to make a real difference.
The questions worth asking any brand
If you're trying to work out whether a product is genuinely suited to sensitive skin, ours or anyone else's, these are fair questions to ask:
- What is it made from, and how heavily processed is it?
- Is it fragrance-free, or just "lightly scented"?
- Are dyes, brighteners, or lotions added?
- Has it been tested for skin safety, and can the brand show you that?
Brands that can answer clearly, without hedging, are usually the ones that built the product around comfort from the start rather than adding a "sensitive" label to an existing line.
The bottom line
Comfort should be part of product innovation, not an afterthought bolted onto a marketing claim. Sometimes the most meaningful innovation isn't a breakthrough. It's making an everyday product more thoughtfully, cutting an unnecessary ingredient, or designing with sensitive skin in mind from day one.
Leo's eczema started as a family challenge. It also gave me a standard I still hold Cheeky Panda to: make products that do their job well, while being as gentle as possible for the people who use them every day.
