The long‐term use of soap does not affect the pH‐maintenance mechanism of human skin. Issue 2 (30th July 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Takagi, Y.; Kaneda, K.; Miyaki, M.; Matsuo, K.; Kawada, H.; Hosokawa, H.
• Is Part Of: Skin research and technology. Volume 21:Issue 2(2015)
• Page Start: 144
• Page End: 148
• Publication Date: 2014-07-30
• Subjects: Skin -- Research -- Periodicals; Skin -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Skin -- Physiology -- Periodicals; 616.5
• DOI: 10.1111/srt.12170
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0909-752X

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="srt12170-abs-0001"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <sec id="srt12170-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>Background</title> <p>The pH at the surface of healthy human skin is around 5. Cleansing the skin with soap increases the pH of the skin, which then returns to a more acidic pH within a few hours. However, the effects of skin cleansing with soap over a long time on the pH regulatory system is still unclear.</p> </sec> <sec id="srt12170-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>Object</title> <p>We compared the pH of the skin between users of a soap‐based cleanser and of a mild‐acidic cleanser prior to and following the cleansing.</p> </sec> <sec id="srt12170-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>Method</title> <p>This study had two groups of subjects, one group who had used a soap‐based cleanser for more than 5 years and the other group who had used a mild‐acidic cleanser for more than 5 years. The pH on the inner forearm of each subject was measured prior to and for 6 h after cleansing with a soap bar.</p> </sec> <sec id="srt12170-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>Result</title> <p>There were no differences between the pH of the skin these two groups prior to cleansing, immediately after cleansing or in the pH recovery rate for 6 h.</p> </sec> <sec id="srt12170-sec-0005" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusion</title> <p>These results suggest that long‐term continuous use of a soap‐based cleanser does not affect the pH‐maintaining mechanism of human skin.</p> </sec> </abstract>