The Drying Affects of Soap and Water

Every now and again, everyone needs a little skin care to keep skin from losing its natural moisture. The human body is an amazing machine that is made up of more than 70 percent water.

The epidermal layer of the body is referred to as skin that is kept moist and supple by the body's natural oils. However hard water and soap dry out the skin and leave a residue on the surface of the epidermis that causes skin to block the natural oils and dry out. Flaky, dry, cracked skin appears in the place of smooth, silky skin and can be an irritating nuisance and an unsightly inconvenience. Designed as a cleanser, soap actually dries out the skin through taking of the ultra thin layer of oil that the human body secretes to keep the skin moist. In place of the natural body oil, soap leaves a fine resin that leaves the skin feeling clean but is in fact robbing the skin of its slick or slippery sensation. If a person were to take a bath and use soap the layer of residual soap that appears in the water after a soak in the tub is what is left on the body after a bath or shower.

Hard water particles also contribute to the drying of skin as the microscopic particles in the water form a bond with soap that makes it stay on the surface of the skin. It is the combination of cohesive elements in the water and the soap that blocks the moisturizing oils under the surface of the skin from escaping through the pores and keeping skin naturally moist.

Cosmetic companies have introduced products over the years to restore the moisture to the outer layer of the skin that is designed to form a barrier of protection from the drying effects of the sun and the climates of arid air that dry out the skin and cause damage to the epidermal layer of tissue.

Moisturizers not only form a protective barrier they also penetrate the surface of the skin to help restore lost moisture and heal dry cracked skin. Moisturizing creams use plant extracts to restore lost moisture without chemical additives that can cause further harm to skin.

Aloe extracts have been widely adopted as a primary healing ingredient in moisturizing products because of the natural ability of the plant to relieve irritation and burning of damaged skin.

Cleansers and Moisturizers for Your Skin Type

The information contained herein is for educational purposes only and is not meant for diagnosis or treatment. Any information found herein should be discussed with a health care professional. Use of this information should be done in accordance with the health care plan outlined by your health care professional. For specific medical advice, diagnosis, and treatment, consult your doctor.