How to choose soap

Liquid or lump

"Liquid, lump, leaf, and powdered soap types are all acceptable," the World Health Organization treatise on hand hygiene noted. "But microbes can remain on the surface of lump soap for some time, so in public places it is better to use liquid soap"^[1].

Solid soap (especially toilet soap) is produced from selected grades of light oils with the addition of alkalis. Soap production is the saponification of fatty acids with alkalis. Liquid soap is produced differently, it is less stable in the environment, you need to add more preservatives, stabilizers that are not added to solid soap.

Lump soap

The history of its emergence has been known for a long time. Base - oils of vegetable origin and synthetic fat substitutes. Alkali is used for saponification.

Modern manufacturers, through the improvement of new technologies, are striving to establish the production of goods with a low acid-alkaline indicator, which is close to the level of human skin pH. The normal acid-alkaline balance of the skin of the hands, face and body is 5.5.

Soap in bars may differ in composition. Additional elements for skin moisturisation are as follows:

• panthenol;
• herbs extracts;
• cream components;
• fatty oils.

The peeling effect is achieved due to the presence of flowers, clay, algae, ground coffee in the petals. For medical purposes, soap with birch resin is used. The tar species relieves inflammation well. Among the significant advantages of lump soap are:

• imparting tenderness to the skin with each washing due to the components of the caring cream, cotton extract;
• skin softening due to cocoa butter;
• moisture retention due to olive oil in the composition;
• intensive nutrition of the stratum corneum due to shea oil and almonds.

Household soap

In household soap, the alkali content is four times greater than in toilet soap, respectively, it has more aggressive actions.

Liquid soap

Its composition is similar to shampoo and gel. Water and several surfactants are considered component components. Cationic, anionic, amphoteric substances can be of both natural and synthetic origin. Unlike the alkaline composition, they dry the skin much less. Good liquid soap provides for the presence of various additives: anti-inflammatory, emollient, moisturizing, nutritional elements.

This variety is particularly practical, because pressing the dispenser button is very easy. In addition, liquid soap is deprived of the ability to become contaminated or wet.

What should be the composition of the soap

Lauryl sulfate is the most important thing to avoid as part of soap, said Raisa Shershen, head of the dermatology department of^[2] Medical Center, in 2021^[3]

Any kind of soap, whether lump or liquid, is designed to remove fat, dirt and pathogenic microorganisms from the skin surface. Quite often, hydrolipid protection is washed away with contaminants. Dry skin especially suffers from this, itching, exfoliation and a feeling of tightness appear. To retain moisture in the epidermis, it is necessary to choose soap according to the type of skin.

Normal skin successfully gets along with soap of any kind when there are cream components in the composition. Frequent washing of hands with liquid and solid soap with such a composition will provide the skin of the hands with tenderness and grooming.

It is best if the soap contains vegetable oils, shea oil, omega fatty acids and vitamins that nourish the skin, said in 2020 the certified pharmacist of the Apotheka pharmacy chain Ivanda Krastina^[4]

Dry skin will need special care. The ideal option will be cream soap with olive oil and pantenol. The level of pH is maintained, the skin becomes soft and elastic.

Sensitive skin will get along with cream soap without dyes.

Soap with antibacterial components (tea tree oil, sage, chamomile, calendula) provides skin care, maintains its elasticity and elasticity.

Cream soap with macadamia oils, argan, shea, asai berries will save the skin from seasonal dryness.

Frequent exfoliation, cracks and burrs are quietly removed by hand soap with a cream texture, which includes allantoin and seaweed extract.

Antibacterial soap

With antibacterial soap, you should be careful. Since its components do not selectively act on microorganisms. Accordingly, both bad and good microbes on the skin are suppressed and the skin barrier is disrupted.

Constant use of antibacterial hygiene products can lead to the appearance of bacteria resistant to antimicrobial agents and disrupt normal skin biocenosis.

In other words, you may develop resistance, that is, resistance to bacteria. That is why, for example, in the United States since 2016 they have been banned from selling^[1].

Brown household soap is alkaline, dissolves the shells of microbes. At the same time, resistance to them does not cause. True, it is more aggressive than ordinary soap, so it can cause dryness, irritation on the skin. To avoid this, after using it, grease your hands with cream.

How to wash your hands properly

Regardless of the type of soap used, the main condition is the correct use of the product. No hot water, just a warm option. In addition, it is necessary to wipe the palms in order not to adhere to the surface of the skin microbes.

Notes