Health Experts Say There Are Many Benefits to Swapping Your Bar Soap for Body Wash

A Healthy skincare routine isn’t just for your face—your whole body can benefit from the right skin regimen. That’s why some experts are calling into question one popular product—traditional bar soap—and suggesting you trade it in for body wash.

According to experts, bar soap can leave your skin squeaky clean and have a low environmental impact. However, body washes offer many advantages over soap. Read on to find out why it may be time to switch—ideally to Brands that are eco-friendly With top-quality ingredients and recyclable or reuseable containers

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If you are currently using bar soap, and have problems with it. Dry or itchy skinExperts suggest switching to a bodywash to keep your skin moisturized. “Body washes typically contain moisturizing ingredients like glycerin, which help to hydrate the skin, whereas traditional bar soaps can be drying,” ” Steven LaneA representative of the American Cosmetic Association.

Enrizza Factor, MD, a dermatologist for My Eczema Team, agrees that this simple change can alleviate dryness. “A bar of soap cleanses the surface of your skin by dissolving the dirt layer. A body wash works in a similar way; however, it not only cleans the skin but also moisturizes it and addresses other skin concerns,” She tells Best Life.

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Lane says that you may find body wash easier than soap. “Body wash is more lathering than bar soap, which makes it easier to spread over the skin and create a rich lather,” He said.

Lane added that “body wash comes in a variety of formulations, including gel, liquid, and cream, and also with different scents, making it more versatile than bar soap.” Consult a dermatologist for advice on the best formulations and ingredients to suit your skin’s needs.

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Many people think soap is self-cleaning due to its ingredients. Lane says that body wash is more hygienic. [compared to bar soap]It’s less likely that it will happen. Mold and bacteria can be harbored.” Factor agrees with this statement: Body washes are “slightly more hygienic” Bars. “That’s because bacteria can live on bars and remain there from shower to shower and person to person,” She elaborates. “To avoid bacteria buildup, always rinse it between use and allow it to drain and dry completely. With a body wash, it’s easier to avoid bacteria buildup since it doesn’t touch the skin while in the bottle,” Factor advises.

However, Erum Ilyas, MD, a dermatologist Schweiger Dermatology Group is currently working together to say that bar soap will not cause any harm if it is continued. “Soap is technically ‘clean.’ Even if a bar soap dries and bacteria find their way onto the bar, they are unlikely to be responsible for spreading disease,” She tells Best Life.

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Factor claims that body washes can be gentler than bar soaps on the skin. “Traditional bar soaps can be more drying than body washes or shower gels because they are more alkaline than our skin, which is an important point of consideration for those with dry or sensitive skin. Body washes, on the other hand, generally have lower pH levels, which are better for more sensitive skin,” She elaborates.

Ilyas concurs that this tends be true. “Many bar soaps have a pH in the 10-12 range. When these come into contact with our acidic skin, the result is a drying or dehydrating effect on the skin,” She elaborates. “Liquid soaps tend to have a pH in the 8 range. We need the pH of our cleansers to be a little higher than the pH of our skin to allow for a cleansing effect. However, the pH of liquid soaps is not generally as high as bar soaps making them less irritating.”

All soaps and body washes are likely to irritate your skin if they remain on your skin after you have washed them. “Keep in mind that no matter what type of cleanser you use, you’ll want to be sure to rinse it off thoroughly when you’re done,” Factors urges