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Medical Video: Dirty little secrets about soap
Goat milk is an excellent source of vitamins and minerals, and is often consumed as an alternative to cow's milk. Besides being processed into food, goat's milk can also be made into bath soap. Goat milk soap is claimed to be more useful than commercial bath soap. Is it true?
Lack of ordinary bath soap
Most people prefer to use ordinary bath soap for reasons of comfort. However, it is not always practical and cheaply always superior. Mass-produced bath soaps are usually high pH because they contain a mixture of synthetic chemical compounds, which may harm the skin.
Commercial body cleansing soaps are actually synthetic detergent products. Detergent cleaners are very popular to use because detergents can foam and act as dirt removers. However, detergent is also alkaline which dries the skin by increasing the acidity (pH) of the skin. The skin has an invisible layer that acts as a protective coat against bacteria, viruses, poisons, irritants, and other things that have the potential to penetrate the skin. Anything that interferes with the pH of this protective coat can cause inflamed skin.
Based on a study published in the journal Skin Pharmacology and Physiology, 90 minutes after washing with soap, the pH of the skin of the hand is not completely back to normal. In addition, changes in pH are reported to play a role in creating the ideal environment for bacteria to multiply, which triggers various skin diseases such as contact dermatitis, atopic dermatititis, Candida albicans skin infections, and other acne-related skin problems.
Commercial bath soap usually also contains fragrances and additional dyes, which can trigger skin dryness as well as allergic reactions - especially for sensitive skin. Dry skin not only feels irritating, but also heals more slowly when injured. Antibacterial soaps can even contain harder chemicals, such as triclosan and triclocarban, which are suspected of carrying an increased risk of bacterial resistance and hormonal changes. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulates the use of triclosan as a pesticide.
Benefits of goat milk soap
Goat milk soap is made from pure goat's milk and other natural ingredients such as coconut oil and olive oil, which are mixed together with lye (sodium hydroxide pellets). Lye is an alkaline agent. However, there is usually no trace of residual alkali in goat milk soap products because the components of the oil and lye molecules have fused and turned into natural soap and glycerin after the complete soap making process. Glycerin provides more natural moisture for the skin.
It is important to note that all real soap must be made with lye. Every skin or hair cleaning product made without sodium hydroxide is not true soap, but a detergent product.
Goat milk in its most natural form contains lactic acid and alpha hydroxy acid. The lactic acid component of pure goat milk is known to play a key role in cleaning the skin by stripping stubborn dirt on the skin. Meanwhile, the content of alpha hydroxy acid serves to break down dead skin cells so that it can accelerate the natural regeneration process of the skin to give the skin a radiant clean appearance.
In addition, goat's milk soap includes high protein and fat content. Protein functions to kill bacteria that cause acne, while fat helps moisturize and prevent skin inflammation. Goat's milk is also rich in nutrients and vitamins that are important for healthy skin, such as zinc, vitamin A, some vitamins B, D, and vitamin E.
Contrary to ordinary bath soap, goat milk soap contains low pH levels thanks to the content of caprylic acid, which decreases the pH level of the soap and makes it almost resemble the pH of the human body. This allows our skin to absorb more nutrients from the soap and prevent bacterial growth. Natural creams in goat milk soap help lock moisture in the skin. That's why if you use goat milk soap regularly, you might start to realize that your skin becomes naturally softer and supple, even when it's not lubricated with moisturizing lotion.
Moreover, goat milk soap does not contain detergent, alcohol, coloring, or petroleum waste which is especially very safe to use for people who have sensitive skin or eczema.
