Soap: Silent Skin Killer and How to Fight It

We think we know how to keep ourselves clean. We take baths. We wash our clothes. We keep the house spic and span, vacuum rugs and change bed sheets. Pretty much a lot of our lives and our time goes into maintaining an atmosphere that is clean, both to our sight and to our skin, and in so doing, we keep our skin clean. But do we really, really know how to maintain smooth and clear skin?

Keeping ourselves clean starts with the bathroom and our morning rituals. Most of us, in general, have ...

a set method of bathing: step into the shower, wash ourselves off, lather soap and/or shampoo, and go. Some people, sadly, believe that’s all it takes, and even worse so if soap is all they have to take care of their skin. Most men are guilty of this, and it is no surprise that they are the ones most in need of skin care aid.

Common commercial bath soap sold on the market is composed of chemicals that create reactions with water and oil. On your skin, this pulls away oil or grease on skin, while also suspending and trapping dirt and grime that may be there as well. Once washed off with water, skin is cleaner as it pulls the dirt away with it.

The trouble with soap is that these chemical reactions can be tough on human skin. That’s because human skin naturally generates a layer of oil to keep it from drying up, and at best to help keep particles from entering one’s pores. Soap damages this layer, and basically strips it away at every wash. When this happens it compromises the health of one’s skin. It can get even worse when one factors in any possible anti-bacterial formulas that can be included in the soap making process, which can also cause harsh reactions on one’s skin.

At best, soap can make the skin feel drier, especially when the weather outdoors lacks humidity. On a bad day, it can damage the skin, and can be part to blame for acne, irritation and other forms of break outs that may be experienced. At worst, some people find some soap products abrasive and can cause allergies which can leave lesions that leave scars and other signs of physical damage.

What solutions are there? Of course, one shouldn’t give up on soap, because keeping clean will be more effective with its regular use – however, it is important to be wiser about using soap. The first step to consider is simple enough – switch to a different soap brand or formula. Different parts of the human body can have different levels of sensitivity, and facial skin is usually the most sensitive. Switching to a mild soap for cleaning one’s face can make a huge difference.

Another key factor is investing on proper lotions or skin care products. They can help restore the lipid layer on skin which soap strips away. This can keep moisture in, which help the skin stay soft and supple.

Of course, one does not neglect the other steps people take to keep skin healthy. They’re basic things, like drinking water, and keeping a balanced diet. It may not sound much, but keeping healthy this way is a factor in keeping one’s skin fit. All the moisturizer in the world does not help if one is dehydrated, and the steady intake of proper nutrients can keep the skin cells in one’s body healthy.

When all else fails, special treatments can come into play. One can opt for skin rejuvenation procedures offered by professional dermatologists and skin care experts. These can help revitalize and restore the damage done on skin, safely and efficiently.

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