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Wash the day away
If you don't have time for time off, then soak away your cares with the time-tested talents of soaps and bath gels. Current brands offer more than just cleanliness. Combined with aromatherapy fragrances, skin softeners, moisturizers, or antibacterial agents, soaps and gels can handle tasks as diverse as killing germs to soothing the soul. Escape from the day's dirt and grime and treat yourself to something nice.
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Choose Your Soother
- Sensitive skin can be irritated by the cleaning agents used in soap, as well as fragrances and other additives. If you experience redness, flakes, or scales, try another brand. Consider using a gentler cleanser on more delicate facial skin.
- Deodorant soaps aren't really designed for the face. Restrict them to below-the-neck use, where their odor-preventing properties can be a plus.
- Soaps formulated for acne can be tough on the skin, especially when combined with other treatments. Proceed with caution to avoid irritation.
- Super-fatted soaps have extra oils that may benefit dry-to-normal skin, but can cause breakouts in oily skin.
- Oatmeal soaps may help lift oils out of oily skin -- not a good choice, though, if your skin is on the dry side.
- Some bars we tend to think of as soaps aren't technically soaps. Often labeled as "beauty bars" or "cleansing bars," they still contain cleansing agents that may dry or irritate, although some make up for it with added moisturizers.
Bye-Bye, Bacteria
- The world's a breeding ground for germs. The good news is that they have a tendency to keep themselves in balance naturally. Washing with ordinary soap and water will do the trick.
- Antibacterial soaps are more effective at killing germs because they leave behind traces of germ-fighting ingredients. This effect may help reduce body odors, but that's never been proven. Nor has any study confirmed that these soaps actually prevent infection.
- Prolonged use of antibacterial soaps may not be safe. One formerly common ingredient was taken off the market after the discovery that it absorbed into the bloodstream at potentially toxic levels.
- Occasional use of an antibacterial soap is probably fine, but day-in, day-out lathering is best avoided.
The "Squeaky-Clean" Fallacy
- Contrary to popular opinion, having a "squeaky-clean" feeling after washing with soap and water doesn't mean you're clean. It's actually caused by the little curds that form when soap mixes with hard water and clings to the skin rather than rinsing away.
- A slippery feeling, on the other had, may indicate you have soft water. It doesn't mean you haven't rinsed well. Still not sure? Here's a good test: lick your hand after washing. If it tastes soapy, you need to rinse more and/or cut back on the amount of soap you use.
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Emollients
Emollients work by forming a protective layer over the skin, keeping moisture in. They are all oily or oil-like chemicals. Olive oil and other plant oils are very effective emollients. Mineral or silicone oils are also excellent emollients. Chemicals like petroleum jelly and lanolin are water-repellent and keep moisture in the skin, helping soften and relieve dryness.
Silicone-based oils
Silicone-based products are synthetic emollients. Like other emollients, they help soothe and protect the skin by coating it and retaining water.
Oatmeal-based
These products contain finely ground oatmeal. They have a soothing and lubricating effect.
Antiseptics
Help kill or prevent bacteria from growing. However, their effectiveness in soaps has not been conclusively evaluated.
Surfactants
Getting dirt and oil off your skin would be difficult without surfactants, which are equally at home in oily or watery substances, or both at once. These sudsy agents in soap help get your skin clean. They also ensure that all the various chemicals in the soap stay mixed together. One part of the surfactant likes to be nestled in oil, while the other part prefers water. Therefore, when you wash the surfactant away with water, the water-like half washes off, dragging along the oil-like half, which brings the dirt with it.
Quaternary ammonium compounds
Incorporated into products for a variety of purposes and in various concentrations. Quaternary ammonium compounds have properties of surfactants, disinfectants, preservatives, and emulsifiers.
| Emollients | Ingredient | Description |
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| Fatty acids | ? | Include stearic acid, lanolin acid, plasmatic acid, and oleic acid. They help soften and soothe skin. | | Fatty alcohols | ? | Include cetyl alcohol, stearyl alcohol, and lauryl alcohol. They help soften and soothe skin. | | Lanolin | ? | Derived from sheep wool, it helps soften and soothe skin, and prevent skin dehydration. It can cause skin irritations. | | Mineral oil | ? | Derived from crude petroleum, it helps prevents skin dehydration. It also helps soften and soothe skin, and is nontoxic. | | Plant oils | ? | Come from plants such as olives, corn, and sunflower. They help soften and soothe skin, and prevent skin dehydration. | | Silicone-Based Oils | Ingredient | Description |
|---|
| Cyclomethicone | ? | Lighter than natural emollients, they help protect and maintain moisture in skin. | | Dimethicones | ? | Help protect and maintain moisture in skin. They are lighter than natural emollients. | | Oatmeal-Based | Ingredient | Description |
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| Colloidal oatmeal | ? | Has a soothing effect on skin. Oil should be added to help smooth skin. | | Antiseptics | Ingredient | Description |
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| Chloroxylenol (PCMX) | ? | An effective antimicrobial, its role in soaps has not been thoroughly evaluated. It can irritate skin and may be toxic if swallowed. | | Triclocarbon | ? | An effective antimicrobial, its role in soaps has not been thoroughly evaluated. | | Triclosan | ? | An effective antimicrobial, its role in soaps has not been thoroughly evaluated. | | Surfactants | Ingredient | Description |
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| Sodium lauryl sulfate | ? | Relatively strong, it should be avoided by people with sensitive skin, or anyone with noticeable irritation. | | Sodium laureth sulfate | ? | A strong, rich, foaming cleanser that is milder and less drying than other cleansers. | | TEA lauryl sulfate | ? | A cleansing agent that should be avoided by people with sensitive skin, or anyone with noticeable irritations. | | Ammonium lauryl sulfate | ? | A gentle hair cleansing agent, it should not be used by people with sensitive skin, or anyone with noticeable irritations. | | Ammonium laureth sulfate | ? | A gentle cleansing agent. | | Cocamide (DEA, MEA) | ? | A very fatty cleaning agent that is often used as an emulsifier and foam builder. | | Cocamidopropyl betaine | ? | A very fatty cleaning agent, it's often used as an emulsifying agent and foam builder. | | Cococamphodiacetate | ? | A very fatty cleaning agent that is often used as an emulsifier and foam builder. | | Sodium cocoglyceryl ether sulfonate | ? | Acts to emulsify mixtures and produce foam. It's a very fatty cleansing agent. | | Quaternary Ammonium Compounds | Ingredient | Description |
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| Guar hydroxypropyltrimonium chloride | ? | Helps combine all the various chemicals and acts as a preservative. | | Dicetydimonium chloride | ? | Helps combine all the various chemicals and acts as a preservative. | | Behentrimonium chloride | ? | Helps combine all the various chemicals and acts as a preservative. | | Behenalkonium chloride | ? | Helps combine all the various chemicals and acts as a preservative. | | Benzalkonium chloride | ? | Helps combine all the various chemicals and acts as a preservative. | | Quaternium-18 | ? | Helps combine all the various chemicals and acts as a preservative. | | Stearalkonium chloride | ? | Helps combine all the various chemicals and acts as a preservative. | | Cetrimonium chloride | ? | Helps combine all the various chemicals and acts as a preservative. |
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Appropriate Uses
Anti-acne soap
Cleans skin and removes dirt and oil. When used regularly, helps reduce acne.
Antibacterial soap
Cleans skin, removes dirt and oil, and helps kill bacteria.
Coal tar products
Contain tar derivatives that help the body shed dead skin cells; also reduces itching caused by dry skin.
Deodorant soap
Cleans skin, removes dirt and oil, and helps to reduce body odor.
Common Pitfalls
Anti-acne soap
Contains harsh cleansing ingredients that may irritate skin further.
Antibacterial soap
Kills bacteria, but there is not much evidence to prove that it does so more effectively than regular soap.
Coal tar products
Coal tar is photosensitizing. Avoid exposure to direct sunlight or sunlamps after use.
Deodorant soap
Contains irritating ingredients and should not be used on the face.
Suds It Up with Bath Bars
- Wet areas to be cleaned with water.
- Using hands, work soap into a lather and massage.
- Using water, rinse clean of residue.
Special Delivery: Soaps in Envelopes
- Fill the bathtub to a comfortable level with warm water.
- While the water is running, tear open a packet of soap and pour it under the stream.
- Allow the soap to dissolve and then get into the bathtub.
- Some packet bath products like soap flakes require rinsing. Others like oatmeal do not. Read the package instructions to determine which kind you are using.
- After bathing, gently pat the skin dry with a towel.
Pamper Your Skin with Bath Gels
- Fill the bathtub to a comfortable level with warm water.
- Pour the desired amount of bath gel or oil into the bathtub.
- Agitate the water with your hand to make sure that the oil or gel is evenly distributed.
- Like other packet bath products, some body washes and foaming body washes need to be rinsed. Others, like bath oils, bath salts, and bath gels do not. In fact, some of their therapeutic benefit continues after you leave the bath.
- After bathing, gently pat the skin dry with a towel.
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Be Kind to Your Skin
- Ingredients in soaps can dry out and irritate your skin or cause breakouts.
- Harsh soaps cause skin irritation when used in combination with other acne products.
- Antibacterial soaps containing greater than 1.5% phenol can cause skin burns and tissue damage.
- Do not use antibacterial soaps if you are allergic to any ingredient in the product, including chloroxylenol (PCMX), cloflucarban, phenol, triclocarban, or triclosan.
- Do not use antibacterial soaps on infants under age 6 months.
- Phenol-containing soaps should never be used on a baby's skin or diapers.
- Do not ingest any soaps.
- Do not use if you are allergic to beeswax, coconut oil, glycerin, olive oil, petroleum oil, sodium hydroxide, or any other ingredient in the product.
- Do not use deodorant soaps on your face.
Special Cautions about Tar Products- Pregnant or nursing women should avoid tar-containing products. The effects of coal tar derivatives on the developing fetus and nursing children are not known.
- Tar containing products should not be used on open wounds or inflamed areas.
- Coal tar is photosensitizing. Avoid exposure to direct sunlight or sunlamps.
- Staining of fiberglass or plastic bathtubs may occur with coal tar products.
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Websites, Organizations & Manufacturers
Sources & Further Reading
Books
- 1. Zimmerman, DR. Complete Guide to Nonprescription Drugs. Gale Research Inc., Detroit, 1993.
- 2. Winter, R. A Consumer's Dictionary of Cosmetic Ingredients. Random House, Ince. New York 1994.
- 3. Michalun, N and MV Michalun. Skin Care and Cosmetic Ingredients Dictionary. Milday Pub. Co. Albany, NY 1994.
Find more books on health and wellness at  barnesandnoble.com.
Articles
- 1. Food & Drug Administration. Soap. Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, Office of Cosmetics Fact Sheet. US FDA, 2/3/95.
- 2. Hopkins, H. "All That Lathers Is Not Soap." FDA Consumer. US FDA, February 1979.
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