Soapy Chemicals
- manjulajk
- 1 day ago
- 3 min read
Updated: 11 minutes ago
The pH is of value.
Believe it or not, the soaps that we have used for as long as we can remember are not good for us. The real reason is that soaps have a high alkaline pH. 9-11 or more. This breaks down the skin's acid barrier, which is 4.5-5.5, making it dry, irritated, inflamed, and with increased oil production. The acid mantle protects against bacteria, fungi, and other pollutants.
Whether the soaps are mass-produced, homemade, cold-pressed, colorful, beautiful, or transparent doesn't matter. Mateo was wondering why his skin was breaking down, and cobwebs were appearing on the skin of his legs. He was lathering heavy moisturizing creams repeatedly to no avail. But the real reason was hiding in plain sight.
What are soaps?
Soaps are cleansing agents made by combining fats or oils with an alkali, such as lye/ Sodium Hydroxide (NaOH) or Potassium Hydroxide (KOH). They are used for washing and cleaning. Soap is the salt of a fatty acid (sometimes other carboxylic acids). Ancient Babylon provides evidence of soap use dating to 2800 BC.[1]
When soap touches water, it bubbles and emulsifies, thus lifting the dirt from the skin and cleansing it. After bathing or washing with soap, the skin feels stretched and dry, and it definitely needs moisturization.
Soaps for sensitive skin.
Sensitive skin, babies, and skin with allergies, eczema or psoriasis cannot tolerate such soaps with a high alkaline pH. Thus, soaps with a low pH are used for them. Such soaps are made of synthetic detergents and are called syndet soaps. Their pH is 7-5 and is much more bearable for the skin. Some examples are Venusia cleanser, Moiz syndet bathing bar, Cetaphil syndet bar, The Derma Co, Dermatouch, Moisturex, So-fibar syndet bathing bar, and many more. They are easily available on Amazon and other platforms.
Dove is a syndet bar or a cream soap. It got flagged by the EU for containing a fragrance called Lilial, BMHCA/ Butylphenyl Methylpropional, because it is a reproductive toxicant and has potential health risks that are carcinogenic, mutagenic, and toxic to reproduction. One ingredient, one batch, compliance issue, not a brand cancellation[2].
Harmful Chemicals in Soap.
Soaps also contain harmful chemicals like parabens, triclosan, fragrances, and formaldehyde. Formaldehyde is a carcinogen, and triclosan, an endocrine disruptor used in antibacterial soaps, may increase antibiotic resistance. It is unnecessary because it is not more effective than soap and water for cleansing. Parabens are added to prevent microbial growth and to prolong shelf life. They mimic estrogen and cause hormonal imbalance, fertility issues, early puberty in children, and hormone-related cancers. They harm the environment and the ecosystem.[3] Phthalates are listed as fragrances[4]. They are used as solvents and fragrance carriers. They are endocrine disrupters and cause reproductive harm. They worsen chronic diseases.
Ditch the sweet scent.
Fragrance-free products are the way to go. It has no therapeutic value. This includes car perfumes and mist-blowers in the house. They give horrible headaches. But people love the scents and smells of products, associating them with sweet memories. Remember the sweet smell of Johnson and Johnson soaps and powders on precious babies. But the asbestos contamination in talcum powder has serious health risks. Preservatives like quaternium-15 release formaldehyde, a known carcinogen. As late as 2022, J&J announced that it would change from asbestos to cornstarch in its powder. It has 40,000 lawsuits against it, but it has never accepted its faulty formulation[5].
The Bottom line.
The bottom line is to refine your search for safe products for personal use and for your house and cars. If they are soaps, perfumes, or cleaning products, it is best to choose healthy, safe options to protect against cancer, infertility, and many other chronic diseases. Why would you want to spend a load of money on buying expensive cosmetics and house cleaning products only to be hurt by them? Many sites offer safe cosmetics. [6],[7],[8] Getting your hard-earned money's worth without paying for poison to come hidden inside is your right. It is also possible to make some soaps and other cleansing materials at home. Surprisingly, it is neither difficult nor time-consuming. There are reams of resources available for you on the internet. So soap yourself to good health.
Shalom.
[6] https://www.edqm.eu/en/-/safe-cosmetics-for-young-children-second-edition-provides-state-of-the-art-guidance-on-cosmetic-products-for-infants-and-young-children
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