Soap is a cleaning product that is used daily by most people. It is made by combining fats or oils and an alkali, such as lye, which are degraded into free fatty acids that then combine with the alkali to form crude soap. However, not all soaps are created equal, and some may contain harmful chemicals that can have undesirable effects on the skin and deeper tissues, especially when used over a lifetime. Here are some details about soap ingredients and materials:
Ingredients:
- Alkali salts of fatty acids: These are the only materials that can cause the cleaning action of soap and must be present for a product to be regulated as "soap".
- Caustic chemicals: These are often used in soap making and can have undesirable effects on the skin and deeper tissues, especially when used over a lifetime.
- Synthetic detergents: These are popular because they make suds easily in water and dont form gummy deposits. Some of these detergent products are actually marketed as "soap" but are not true soap according to the regulatory definition of the word.
- Harmful chemicals: Some soaps may contain harmful chemicals such as parabens, SLS, phthalates, and citric acid.
Positive:
- Soap is an effective cleaning product that can remove dirt and grime from the skin and other surfaces.
Negative:
- Some soaps may contain harmful chemicals that can have undesirable effects on the skin and deeper tissues, especially when used over a lifetime.
- Synthetic detergents, which are often marketed as "soap," may not be as effective as true soap.
Materials:
- Fat: The major raw material for soap manufacture.
- Alkali: A substance that is used to make soap by reacting with fats or oils.
- Optical brighteners, water softeners, and abrasives: These are often added to soap as additives.
To ensure that you are using a safe and non-toxic soap, you can check the ingredients list and product label. You can also use resources such as the EWG Skin Deep® Cosmetics Database to evaluate the safety of soap ingredients.
