How to Choose Soap According to Skin Type

Everyone wants to have clean, fresh and comfortable skin after bathing. Choosing bath soap must be adjusted to the type of skin that is divided into dry, oily, or sensitive skin. Make your choice on the types and types of bath soap that are safe and comfortable for the health of your skin. Each person has a personal preference in choosing bath soap. Selection of soap is usually only based on the desire to appear clean, fresh, and fragrant. In fact, improper soap selection can make skin dry, itchy, or even irritated. The irritating soap content can also trigger dry, itchy and reddish skin on sensitive skin types.

How to Choose Soap According to Your Skin Type

Soap is a type of skin cleanser made from a chemical mixture of fats, oils, and fatty acids and alkaline substances. The type and content of soap are generally affected by a combination of the composition and the main chemical. We often buy soap based on preferences or even because it is affected by advertisements. Even more important is to choose products based on skin type. Especially if our skin tends to be sensitive, dry, or even too oily.

• Dry skin

Although it is useful to get rid of impurities and bacteria, unfortunately most soap also removes natural oils produced by the body. Especially for those with dry skin, it is recommended to use soap that contains natural moisturizers and is free of fragrance or alcohol. For example soap with the contents of sunflower oil, cocoa butter, or olive oil. To keep the skin moist, you can also use a moisturizer that contains petrolatum, lanolin, or dimethicone that does not contain fragrance within 3 minutes after bathing. Also avoid using detergents or antibacterial soaps, these two ingredients can irritate the skin so the skin tends to be inflamed and can reduce the production of natural oils in the skin. If you have dry skin, in addition to choosing the right soap, you should also avoid bathing with hot water.

• Oily skin

Supple and moist skin is your advantage for having oily skin. But on the other hand, skin that is too oily will make bacteria multiply faster. Use an antibacterial soap made from soft like honey to prevent this. Soft soaps like glycerin and contain no detergent are a good choice for cleansing oily skin. You can also try soap or wheat products to treat oily skin.

• Sensitive Skin

To prevent irritation, it is better if you have sensitive skin with soap with little or no fragrance. Also make sure the soap you choose has a balanced pH level (pH balanced). Avoid soaps that contain antibacterial and deodorant ingredients. These ingredients contain irritative substances that can irritate the skin. Examples of soaps you can use are baby soap or detergent-free soap that was created specifically for sensitive skin. But not necessarily all the ingredients in a special soap is suitable for you. If in doubt, you can try each type of product to find a suitable soap or consult a dermatologist.

• Combination Skin

If your skin feels scaly, dry and easily irritated in certain areas, but at the same time feels oily in other areas, then you have combination skin. Because it consists of dry and oily skin, combination skin needs to be specially cleaned using different products. Use a cleanser that is gentle and contains minimal chemicals. In a dry area, you need to use a moisturizer, meanwhile you need a cleansing soap containing benzoyl peroxide on the oily skin area to prevent inflammation or appearance of zits.

Use the appropriate soap

After recognizing your skin type, choose the soap that best suits your skin needs. A good soap will make your skin look smoother, beautiful and healthy.

• Bar Soap

The content of sodium hydroxide in bar soap is indeed useful for cleaning the body of impurities. Even so, the content of sodium hydroxide in bar soap can also make your skin dry. If you still prefer bar soap, make sure your choice of soap does not contain high levels of alkali (alkaline) which can cause irritation and dry skin. Instead, use bar soap that contains a lot of emollients or moisturizers to keep skin moisturized. Bar soap is usually softer and does not contain high perfume than liquid soap.

• Body wash

In addition to cleaning dirt, liquid soap usually contains a moisturizer such as petrolatum which is useful for keeping skin soft. Body wash with the label "moisturizing" is the best choice for those with dry skin because besides containing petrolatum it also contains other natural moisturizing oils.

• Shower Gel

Just like body wash, shower gel is also liquid. The difference is that shower gel is thicker and usually contains more deodorizers. This type of soap is suitable for those who have oily skin. But if you are sensitive to the fragrance content or certain ingredients in this type of soap you need to replace the product or look for other products that are more suitable for your skin.

Whatever type or form of soap you use, read the contents and method of use listed on the product carefully before using it. Besides avoiding cigarettes, limit or avoid the consumption of alcoholic beverages, and using sunscreen when doing activities in areas exposed to sunlight are some simple ways that can maintain the health of your skin and your body's health in general. After trying a number of different soaps and moisturizers, does your skin still remain unhealthy? Try to see a dermatologist to get further treatment.