Is bath soap good or damaging to the skin? & bull; hello healthy

Everyone certainly has their own personal taste in choosing soap for bathing. However, choosing the right bath soap according to your skin type is actually one way to treat skin health itself.

The choice of bath soap must be tailored to the needs of the skin. Moreover, if you have sensitive, dry, or too oily skin types. So, how do you choose a safe and healthy bath soap?

How does soap clean the skin?

Soap is all kinds of cleaning agents made from fatty acids. Simply put, soap works by cleaning the skin from dirt, sweat, and sebum (oil that the body produces naturally) on the skin.

Substances that play a role in this are surfactants. Surfactants are chemicals that stabilize the mixture of oil and water in the soap-making process. Apart from soap, surfactants can also be found in body lotion, perfume, and similar cleaning products.

Oil and water, which are the raw materials for soap, cannot mix with water. So, the role of surfactants in soap is not only to clean, but also to make the soap wash off easily with water.

Not only that, the surfactants in bath soap also help the process of exfoliating dead skin cells, aka exfoliating naturally. How it works by removing dead skin cells from the outermost layer of the skin so that new cells can grow.

Although useful, surfactants also have an adverse effect on the outer part of the skin called the stratum corneum. If not used properly, these chemicals can damage the skin's protective function, increasing the risk of irritation and bacterial infection.

Tips for choosing a bath soap according to skin type

There are many different types of soap, but the best one is the one that suits your skin's needs. After identifying your skin type and needs, here are a variety of soaps that you can choose from.

1. Sensitive skin

This skin type can be a bit tricky when it comes to maintenance issues. If you choose the wrong soap, it can irritate your skin. To prevent irritation, people with sensitive skin should use a bath soap that does not have dyes and perfumes.

Also, make sure the soap you choose has a balanced pH value. The pH value determines the acidity of your skin. Healthy skin has a pH between 4.7 - 5.75. Moreover, the skin will be drier and prone to irritation.

You can also look for bath soaps that contain organic ingredients, such as goat stack soap. The reason is, soaps that have organic ingredients tend not to have preservatives to reduce side effects that are bad for your skin.

Even so, remember that not all ingredients in sensitive skin soaps are suitable for you. Soaps that work for one person may not work for another. If you are in doubt, the best way is to consult a dermatologist.

2. Dry skin

The best bath soap for dry skin is one that contains moisturizers. Look for soaps with mild ingredients that contain glycerin, because glycerin is able to lock moisture in the skin tissue for a longer time.

In addition to natural moisturizers such as glycerin, you can also choose bath soaps that contain various organic ingredients. Look for the olive oil content, cocoa butter, aloe vera, coconut oil, jojoba oil, or avocado if your skin is dry.

Also avoid using detergent or antibacterial soaps. Both of these ingredients can irritate the skin and make it more inflamed. This is because detergents and similar harsh chemicals can strip the skin of its natural oils.

3. Oily skin

Having oily skin is an endless problem if it is not handled properly. The reason is, oily skin makes makeup it fades easily, is prone to breakouts, and makes you want to shower all the time because of the stickiness and oiliness.

If you have this type of skin, you can use a mild antibacterial soap containing glycerin. Also choose a bath soap that does not contain chemicals and detergents to avoid irritation and excess oil.

4. Combination skin

Because it is composed of dry and oily skin, combination skin needs to be cleaned specifically using different products. Even so, the main thing you need to look for in a bath soap is a detergent-free description.

Use a moisturizing soap on the drier areas of the skin. Meanwhile, the oily skin needs to be cleaned with soap containing benzoyl peroxide. This aims to prevent inflammation or acne in the body.

Can you change the bath soap?

Actually, the effects of soap can vary because it really depends on the skin condition of each person. Therefore, the habit of changing bath soaps may only have an impact on those with sensitive skin.

All cleaning products have basically the same ingredients. No matter what form of bath soap you use, they all contain surfactants. However, not a few of these products use different chemicals.

For example, the chemicals used as dyes and fragrances for soap will differ in some products. Changing soaps can increase the risk of your skin being exposed to chemicals that can cause skin irritation or other skin problems.

Therefore, try to start choosing a bath soap that suits your skin type. This is so that you can feel the maximum benefits and avoid dry skin and other side effects.