The Hard Truth About Your Commercial Soap
Commercial soaps are often made using synthetic ingredients, such as triclosan, sulfates, and parabens, which can be harmful to the skin. Sulfates are a group of ingredients commonly used in commercial soaps and other personal care products as surfactants, which help to create a lather. These ingredients, which include sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) and sodium laureth sulfate (SLES), can be harsh and drying on the skin and may cause irritation, redness, and other adverse reactions in some people.
In addition to being irritating to the skin, sulfates have also been shown to have other potential health risks such as being able to penetrate the skin and enter the bloodstream, where it can cause a range of adverse effects, including organ toxicity.
Parabens, on the other hand, are a group of chemicals commonly used as preservatives in commercial soaps and other personal care products. These chemicals can be absorbed through the skin and have been shown to mimic the activity of estrogen in the body, which can disrupt the endocrine system and potentially lead to a range of health problems.
Triclosan is an antimicrobial chemical that is often found in soaps and other personal care products, but it can disrupt the endocrine system and may contribute to the development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Triclosan is an antimicrobial chemical that is commonly used in soaps and other personal care products to kill bacteria and other microorganisms. It has been shown to be effective at killing bacteria, but it has also been linked to a range of health problems, including endocrine disruption, antibiotic resistance, and cancer.
Triclosan has been shown to interfere with the function of hormones in the body, such as thyroid hormones and sex hormones, which can lead to a range of adverse effects, including disrupted development, reproduction, and metabolism. Additionally, the widespread use of triclosan has contributed to the development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, which can make infections more difficult to treat.
Overall, the synthetic ingredients used in commercial soaps can be harsh and irritating to the skin and may have negative health effects if used regularly For these reasons, many people choose to avoid products containing sulfates and other chemicals that are often found in commercial soaps, in favor of gentler, natural alternatives such as handcrafted soaps, which, are typically made using natural ingredients, such as essential oils and plant-based oils, which are less likely to irritate the skin. Additionally, handcrafted soaps often contain glycerin, which is a natural moisturizer, while commercial soaps may strip the skin of its natural oils. In general, handcrafted soaps are considered to be gentler and more nourishing for the skin than commercial soaps.