Body cleansing

Help water carry away fat

Water removes some of the soluble substances and dirt, but does not mix well with fatty substances. Surfactants have parts that interact with water and others with fats. They facilitate the detachment and dispersion of sebum and residue, which rinsing can then wash away.

Soap and syndet do not designate the same formula

Traditional soap is generally alkaline. A syndet uses other cleansing agents and can be formulated at a pH closer to that of the skin surface. For easily dried out skin, this can be interesting, but the pH does not decide everything: the nature and combination of surfactants also count.

A superfatted soap remains a soap, even if it contains materials intended to limit drying out. Likewise, “sulfate-free” or “natural” does not guarantee an absence of irritation. These mentions provide information on certain wording choices; they do not replace observation of the skin after several uses.

The tightness comes from poorly tolerated washing

The stratum corneum combines cells and lipids which help limit water loss. Washing can disrupt this when it is too harsh on the skin. Very hot water, prolonged duration and friction can make the problem worse. If the skin feels tight, the solution is not necessarily to wash less well, but to make the process more gentle.

Foam and scent do not measure cleanliness

Foam is formed from air bubbles stabilized in the liquid. Its abundance depends on the formula and how you use it, not just the amount of dirt removed. Fragrance adds scent, but is not necessary in the wash. Reapplying gel until you obtain a lot of foam can especially increase the quantity of product to rinse.

Reduce odors without trying to sterilize the skin

Body odors depend in particular on the transformation of substances present in sweat by micro-organisms in the skin. Washing the affected areas and wearing clean clothes helps limit them.

The skin normally harbors microorganisms. For everyday hygiene, an antibacterial product has not demonstrated a general advantage over ordinary washing to prevent illness, the FDA points out about consumer soaps. An antiseptic may have a specific medical indication; this does not justify systematically adding it to each shower.

Pimples are not always a problem with dirt

Cleaning up after sweating and changing damp clothes are helpful, but back acne isn't simply treated with more shower gel. Scrubs and brushes can irritate the lesions. Persistent or painful spots may require specific treatment rather than a harsher cleansing product.