Soap, why is it a bad idea to wash your face? How not to damage your face during care: a mistake in cleansing the skin. 7 reasons why you should not wash with soap.
To wash your face with soap is to expose sensitive and sensitive skin to unnecessary tests. To clean it is better to use other means – more delicate developed taking into account the uniqueness of the epidermis. Despite the variety of soaps, do not be tempted to buy a fragrant soap bar that says it has been created specifically for your face. And even more, you do not have to experiment with ordinary toilet soap. At best, the skin will respond to irritation and dryness and at worst, serious skin diseases will appear. Here are 7 reasons why you should not wash your face with soap.
Improper combination
To begin with, soap, by definition, is not specifically designed for facials. This product is designed for hygiene and household needs. Its composition was developed for such a purpose.
In a classic recipe, the base is water-soluble sodium or potassium salt. It is supplemented with saturated fatty acids – usually sodium stearate. That is, soap skin is formed due to the reaction of fatty acids and alkalis.
Under the influence of water, a foam solution forms which enters the pores and washes away dirt. Emulsion surrounds the smallest impurities and removes them from the surface of the skin. This seems to be very useful for faces that need regular high-quality cleansing. After all, soap completely removes even fat.
Why you cannot wash your face with soap – this effect is not justified. It makes sense to clean your hands this way, which are constantly in contact with very dirty surfaces. However, the effect is very aggressive for thin and sensitive facial skin.
Components of the product threaten and damage its cells:
- Salt ions “wash” natural moisturizers from the skin layer.
- Fatty acids cause a blockage in the pores (this is especially obvious if the skin is generally prone to acne).
It can be added that in today’s stores there are products that have almost nothing in common with soap in a classic presentation. These are synthetic detergents; their composition is still “nuclear”. It includes surfactants (surfactants) and vegetable fats, and even chemical products.
Of course, there is a complete contraindication for such aggressive factors to use: synthetic facial soap can be dangerous. Due to washing, there is a feeling of tightness of the skin, irritation with redness, and dryness. If you use the product constantly, you may get dermatitis and other skin problems.
The damage to soap on the skin of the face is even greater if it is a product for the mass market, which, in addition to the above components, contains dyes and fragrances. Some of them are so aggressive that they cause an allergic reaction or irritation after just one wash.
Destruction of the sebum
The diagram shows a hydro-lipid mantle of moisture and dry skin
Now let’s move on to the structure of human skin. It is helpful to have an idea of it to understand once and for all whether it is possible to wash the face with soap.
Our skin is a very complex multilayered organ. One of its components is a hydro-lipid mantle. Fractures and defects present a wide range of problems – from micro-organisms and allergens to deep tissues to dehydration of the epidermis. Washing your face with soap is harmful as it destroys the water lipid barrier, as originally such a product was not intended to perform sensitive skin cleansing.
Hydro lipid mantle is a film that is located on the surface of the skin and is invisible to the eye, consisting of several elements:
- Peeled scales;
- A person’s own secretion – sweat, fat;
- Organic acids;
- Local microflora – so-called beneficial bacteria.
Of course, she is rather sensitive. Although constantly renewed, this layer is destroyed by an aggressive chemical attack. It is this effect that occurs when foaming on a classic soap based on fatty acids and alkalis.
Synthetic materials made from surfactants and petroleum products work in a similar way. And the more often you use soap to wash your face, the more complicated the consequences will be.
When the hydro-lipid mantle does not have time to regenerate, a gap forms in the protective barrier. The body is open to the attacks of harmful microorganisms. The permeability of the skin to substances is increased. In addition, the effectiveness of creams and other hair care products decreases. In the simplest terms, instead of getting deep into the tissues and fixing serious problems in the structure of the skin, they will act superficially and effectively clear the hydro-lipid barrier.
Violation of acid-base balance
Many advertisements for different types of soaps are full of information that their products have the “right” ph. Buyers, on the other hand, do not really understand what this indicator is and easily believe the promises of the sellers. Meanwhile, the pH value is not as simple as we would like it to be. But precisely because of the violation of this clue, the answer to the question of whether to wash the face with soap becomes obvious.
The peculiarity of human skin is that it has a healthy acidity in the range of 4.7-5.7. This is nothing more than the acidity of the contents. If the indicator is in the above areas, the environment is acidic. Thanks to this, the following positive effects occur: harmful microorganisms die. It is that the skin actually acts as the first and most important weapon against bacteria and viruses. Harmful agents die before they enter the body. In an acidic condition, so-called positive microorganisms certainly survive.
Washing your face with soap means breaking the acidic environment. Immediately after cleansing the skin with this product, the pH value changes significantly – upwards. How much it grows depends on the properties of a particular detergent product. But in any case, the naturally acidic environment is changing, no matter what soap manufacturers promise.
We will not claim that you can never wash your face with soap and under no circumstances. Because the body strives to restore mild acidity. For this, the epidermis produces various organic acids – lactic sugar, citric acid, and others. However, you can definitely not use such a device all the time.
Imbalances in favor of bases have the following consequences:
- Skin irritation;
- Dry skin;
- Development of pathogenic microflora;
- Acne formation;
- Cases of skin diseases.
In addition, you cannot wash your face with soap if your skin is already prone to the appearance of micro traumas. Suffering from dehydration, the contents will not be able to protect against bacteria. Small microorganisms easily penetrate deep into tissues and cause rashes and more serious diseases.
Dangerous infertility
Many people do not even think about the question of whether it can be washed with soap: they love the feel on the skin that arises after washing the face “to squeak”. Most adherents of this detergent are among the owners of oily surfaces. And it is possible to understand them: if the face shines off excess fat, wild, then you want to wash it so that the skin will not eventually become oily. However, this is unsafe and even harmful!
Let’s take a closer look at the microbe: in its simplest form, it is a community of beneficial bacteria present on human skin. If at the end of the 19th century some scientists discovered that there are some micro-organisms that are invisible to the eye that can cause disease, while others, a century later, discovered that they are useful and important among them.
The main representatives of the friendly microbe living on the face:
- Propionibacterium acnes – produces propionic acid. This in turn inhibits the growth of many harmful bacteria.
- Staphylococcus epidermis – this micro-organism prevents the proliferation of harmful “relatives” – Staphylococcus aureus.
Every, even the most delicate cream soap for the face destroys ruthlessly. You might be happy with this if you did not know that these very positive bacteria actually protect us from attackers. If they are systematically eliminated, then an imbalance will arise. Harmful microorganisms settle quickly and readily on deadly clean skin: by scraping off grease and dirt seriously, one actually creates the ideal conditions for them to multiply. Therefore, soap for the skin of the face is harmful in that it promotes the development of pathogenic flora.
It’s no secret that even some beauticians still recommend washing with blackheads, blackheads, and inflammation with tar soap. It is considered a natural antiseptic, destructive microflora. He is also credited with wound healing, and drying properties. Can I wash my face with tar soap? If used, it is highly dosed. It is best to consult a dermatologist or cosmetologist first. Most often, with such a treatment, it is advisable to perform literally 2-3 cleansing procedures per week, if there is evidence of its use.
Changes in the structure of the stratum corneum
After researching how this detergent works on the skin, researchers have found that soap is harmful to the face not only in that it violates the hydro-lipid mantle and ph. When the pH changes in the epidermis, unwanted processes begin. If the acidic environment changes to alkaline, the production of enzymes is disrupted. This in turn has a detrimental effect on the structure of the stratum corneum – this is the visible part of the skin. It serves as yet another obstacle after the hydro-lipid mantle in the path of pathogens.
What happens to the skin layer when washed with soap?
- The rate of cell regeneration slows down;
- The ability to regenerate after the damage is impaired;
- Tissue structure changes: they become looser and permeable.
Therefore, undesirable dryness, redness and a tendency to irritation occur in the background of constant use of such a drug. Due to changes in the structure of the stratum corneum, the skin withstands even worse environmental factors – the sun, the wind, and the frosty air. But the face is constantly open to such effects, so the safety of all obstructive action on the epidermis is doubly important to him. This results in a vicious cycle, resulting in drowsiness, rapid aging, peeling, and other skin problems.
Loss of moisture
If you use soap for the face and body for washing, the feeling of dryness and tightness of the skin is inevitable.
And it’s unsafe – this is a sign of dehydration:
- Alkaline compounds destroy fat, that is, lipids, which are part of the water-fat skin. It also prevents water loss.
- Incorrect pH leads to increased tissue release and permeability. Accordingly, the precious liquid evaporates more easily and rapidly under the influence of the sun and wind.
If the skin is constantly “thirsty”, its tissues, including collagen and elastin, suffer. They are responsible for youth and beauty. With a lack of water, such fibers lose elasticity, and along with stiffness comes fragility. Outwardly, this manifests itself in the appearance of wrinkles, and weakening of the turgor. If you want to delay old age, the question of whether you can wash with washing soap disappears by itself.
Lack of necessary components
Even if you buy the most expensive liquid soap for the face, after you have studied its composition, it is easy to find that it lacks many valuable elements that are important for cleansing sensitive and sensitive skin. Although manufacturers are improving their products, they are adapting to modern standards. However, only a combination of specific ways to cleanse it – tonic and milk, lotion, or gel, can be considered balanced and most beneficial for the skin of the face.
What exactly should the facial soap contain so that we can say that it cleanses and supports the skin perfectly and thoroughly?
- Special soft surfactants … These are non-corrosive substances that are acceptable in soap. Facial cleansers include capryl glucoside and coco betaine, coco glucoside and Cocamidopropyl betaine. They excel at treating impurities, with little to no pH changes or disruption of the watery sebum. Therefore, dehydration of the skin with subsequent negative consequences is ruled out.
- Acids … We are talking about milk, salicyl, etc. Remember why it is impossible to wash with soap – due to its alkaline nature it becomes clear why such components are for the purpose of cleansing the face. They maintain an acidic environment, which is necessary to maintain a hydro-lipid mantle, ph. In addition, acids gently exfoliate dead cells and thus initiate regeneration. They are especially irreplaceable in products for oily and high-quality skin.
- Hydra –Soothing fluid, non-greasy moisturizing milk, repairs and nourishes skin with shea butter and apricot kernel oil. In addition, it is important to get rid of the belief that moisturizing is only needed with a noticeable dryness of the contents. It is dehydration that can cause excessive fat production. And accordingly, moisturizing ingredients can normalize the work of sebaceous glands. If the skin is thoroughly washed from grease, using facial soap or other similar products, instead of special foam and gel, the process will only get worse. In addition, along with the oily sheen in the reflection, enlarged pores, and blackheads will also scare. To provide a moisturizing effect, plant extract, pantheon, and glycerin is added to cosmetics for cleansing.
- Natural oils … are formulated to soften dry skin. At the same time, they protect sensitive information. Of course, manufacturers choose the best oils for sensitive faces – coconut, almond, rose, rosemary, and thyme.
Conclusion
It is also worth remembering that the cosmetics industry offers the widest arsenal of facial cleansers, and special preparations for dry and oily, combination, and sensitive skin. With all the desire, it is impossible to choose as accurately as possible a soap that will not only cleanse, but also moisturize, nourish, soften the skin, and prevent fatigue and flaking. If you want to stay young as long as possible without fear of the first wrinkles, the more you need to use special cosmetics. Do not rely on other people’s reviews of facial soap: even if it suits someone perfectly, it is not a fact that it will satisfy the needs of the skin.