Harsh cleansers and soaps. Are you using the right products for your skin?

Are the daily hygiene products you use really safe for your skin?

The answer is not as obvious as many people think.

Many cleansers and soaps on the market, even those that seem gentle, can actually damage sensitive skin without you realising it.

Let us find out how.

Cleansers, soaps and skin pH: when cleansers are too harsh

Imagine the most typical of your days.

It is morning. The sound of the alarm rouses you. With your eyes still half closed, you head to the bathroom and turn on the hot water to wash away the sleep.

The water runs over your face and hands, while the scented soap lathers between your fingers. It feels like a small pampering ritual with which to start the day.

But what really happens to your skin in those minutes?

It depends a great deal on the cleanser you have chosen.

Our skin, in fact, has a slightly acidic pH, between 4.6 and 5.5. This value is very important because it allows the hydrolipidic film (our skin's barrier) to perform its function as well as possible:

• retaining hydration, preventing water loss
• protecting against bacteria and irritation
• keeping the skin healthy and resistant to external agents.

When the pH is altered, this protective barrier weakens.

Cleansers and soaps. Ingredients to avoid for healthy skin

At this point we might ask: which products alter the skin's pH?

Among the most common are harsh cleansers, hand gels with a high percentage of alcohol and products rich in synthetic fragrances or additives.

The alkaline soaps, like many of those you find on supermarket shelves, have an alkaline pH, close to or above 8.

This mismatch between the pH of the cleanser and the physiological pH of the skin can have negative effects on skin health, including:

• excessive removal of sebum: alkaline soaps can have an overly intense degreasing effect, removing not only dirt and impurities but also the natural sebum that protects the skin. This leaves the skin dry, fragile and more vulnerable to irritation.
• weakening of the skin barrier: a pH that is too high can upset the natural balance of the hydrolipidic film, reducing the skin's ability to retain water and to protect itself from bacteria, irritation and potentially harmful external agents.
• "Rebound" effect: to make up for the loss of sebum, the sebaceous glands may increase production, causing spots and other imperfections typical of "oily skin".

But the pH of cleansers is not the only risk to the skin.

Many products on the market contain sulphates, such as sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) or sodium laureth sulfate (SLES), used to create an abundant lather, which we often associate with a feeling of cleanliness.

However, these are very harsh surfactants that act (once again) on sebum, removing too much of it and compromising the hydrolipidic film.

And fragrances and synthetic additives? They often add pleasant scents that linger on the skin, like an olfactory embrace that wraps around us and follows us wherever we go…

but these substances can become irritants and cause redness, itching or minor allergic reactions, especially on sensitive and reactive skin.

Finally there is alcohol, found in some sanitising gels or hand cleansers.

Although it helps to eliminate bacteria and germs, it has a dehydrating effect on the skin and repeated use can compromise the skin barrier, leaving hands dry, red and more sensitive.

Daily habits that damage the skin and how to avoid them

It is not just harsh cleansers.

Even the most ordinary gestures of our daily hygiene routine can become harmful to the skin if repeated carelessly.

Here, then, are the most common mistakes we make when it comes to cleansing:

Washing too often or too vigorously: scrubbing hands and face hard several times a day, even with gentle or neutral/physiological pH cleansers, can be harmful to the skin. Every wash, regardless of the product used, still removes some of the natural sebum and surface hydration.

In practice: it is not just a question of formula, but also of how often and how you cleanse.

Water that is too hot: washing in the morning with hot water, especially during the coldest months, can be pleasant. However, the habit of setting the water to a high temperature stresses the skin, because excessive heat promotes dehydration, weakening the skin barrier and increasing the risk of redness, itching and irritation, even when using gentle cleansers.

Ignoring post-wash hydration: not applying moisturising creams or protective oils after cleansing leaves the skin without support and more prone to daily stress.

How to protect your skin. The hygiene and care products you will not want to do without

Choosing a gentle cleanser formulated to respect the physiological pH, free from harsh sulphates, alcohol and irritating fragrances, is the first step in turning daily cleansing into a gesture of genuine care.

That is why we are introducing some of the GD products that will become a permanent part of your well-being routine.

For cleansing:

• AVEC Detergente Mousse: light and gentle, it cleanses the skin while respecting its pH and hydrolipidic film, helping to restore the thin protective layer that covers the surface of the skin and supporting the natural regenerative capacity of the epidermis.

It contains no nickel or other irritants such as fragrance, preservatives, colourants or harsh surfactants. Its formulation ensures maximum tolerability even for the most delicate skin, such as that of elderly people and young children, who are more exposed and sensitive to internal and external aggressions.

It is specifically formulated for cleansing sensitive, reactive, intolerant and allergic skin, and is useful when the skin presents problems such as erythema, eczema, ichthyosis, psoriasis and itching.

• Isoderma soap-free gentle cleanser: it respects the natural pH of the skin and helps restore its physiological acidity. It moisturises in depth and, thanks to collagen and coconut oil, helps rebuild the skin's protective mantle. The addition of Aloe enhances the soothing properties of the cleanser, making it suitable even for skin prone to skin disorders, from eczema to atopic dermatitis.

For facial hydration:

• Cutil moisturising cream: thanks to its specific formulation, Cutil crema Idratante helps restore and maintain the correct level of skin hydration, protecting it from everyday external aggressions. At the same time, it helps preserve its integrity and counter the signs of skin ageing, keeping the skin healthier, softer and more radiant day after day.

For any reports or complaints, please contact the owner of this website at the email address gdtif@gditalia.biz

RECOMMENDED PRODUCTS