Monday, November 22, 2010

Skin Cleansing

The skin is the largest organ in the human body. It is the outer layer of the body. It comprises of two layers, the Epidermis and the Dermis. Cleansing of the skin is basic to maintaining its health and contributes to its aesthetic appearance. The substances to be removed from the skin includes;
  • Sweat
  • Dust
  • Remains of cosmetics and makeup previously applied
  • Soot (from the air)
  • Breakdown products excreted from the skin, etc.
All these dirt are embedded in the oily layer on the skin surface. Washing with water only cannot cleanse the skin effectively. Water is repelled by oil, it is not able to remove dirt from the oily layer of the skin surface. Therefore, there is need for the use of soap.
Soap contains salts of various fatty acids such as Stearic acid, Palmitic acid, Oleic acid, Myristic acid and Lauric acid. These fatty acids are derived from animal or vegetable sources. Apart from these fatty acids, soap also contains fragrances and perfumes, antibacterial substances, coloring agents, preservatives, moisturizers,etc.

Because of soap's particular molecular structure, its particles overlay the fat droplets in which the dirt is embedded and allow to be washed off the skin with water. These soap structures, called micelles, overlay the fat and dirt particles, allowing them to be removed from the skin. The following should be observed when cleansing the skin:
  1. A mild soap, suited for the skin type must be used.
  2. Excessive scrubbing of the skin while washing must be avoided. Dead cells will definitely fall off without using abrasive substance or device.
  3. Lukewarm water should be used for the skin of the face.
  4. Avoid vigorous rubbing when drying the skin as this may irritates the skin.
  5. Wipe the face gently by dabbing with a soft towel.
However, care must be taken when selecting soap and moisturizers, because it is not all soap and moisturizer that is suitable for the skin. There are different types of soap and moisturizer for different type of skin.

2 comments:

  1. Nice article keep it up, hope to read more of these educative articles from you. Shalom!

    ReplyDelete