Is Handmade Soap Antibacterial

Handmade soap is not necessarily antibacterial; however, because of the makeup of natural or handmade soap, it is remarkably effective not in killing germs and bacteria but in removing them from your skin.

How Does Handmade Soap Work?

Handmade soap is comprised of molecules that are water-loving (hydrophilic) and molecules that are repelled by water (hydrophobic). As you know, water and oil don’t mix and neither do the hydrophilic and hydrophobic compounds.

Handmade soap works synergistically to loosen dirt, debris, and excess oils from your hands, face, and body. The hydrophobic compounds attach to and bind with grease, debris, and oils, while the hydrophilic compounds bind with the water.

When the two hydrophobic and hydrophilic compounds combine, they form water-soluble micelles that surround oil, grease, and debris and are then washed and rinsed away with water. A gentle soap will complete this process effectively without stripping your skin of the healthy oil and bacteria your skin needs.

When your skin is clean, it becomes more difficult for harmful germs and bacteria to grow. So, I ask; if the sole purpose of handmade soap is to cleanse your skin by removing excess oil, dirt, debris, and bacteria causing germs, and can do so effectively using natural ingredients, is the use of chemicals necessary?

Antibacterial Soap

As you most likely know, not all bacteria are bad. There are some bacteria that our bodies need to maintain a healthy balance to naturally fight off infection and maintain optimum functionality.

For cleansers to be “antibacterial” or “antimicrobial”, they most likely contain the active ingredient triclosan or triclocarban. These chemicals kill germs and bacteria on the skin including the good bacterial your skin and body needs to be healthy.

The use of these chemicals was initially for use in hospitals to sterilize and sanitize instruments but eventually spread to more commonly used products such as cleansers, toothpaste, and deodorant.

Although highly effective when it comes to killing germs and harmful bacteria, prolonged use, and exposure to chemicals such as triclosan and triclocarban can potentially do more harm than good.

Conclusion

In conclusion, handmade soap is not antibacterial in the sense of killing germs and bacteria; however, as a natural cleanser, soap gently washes away excess oils, dirt, and debris from the skin preventing the growth and spreading of harmful germs and bacteria.

Soap handmade with natural ingredients, in my opinion, is gentler and less damaging to your skin as well as the environment but don’t take my word for it, try a bar of natural handmade soap, and see for yourself.

If you’re anything like me, you’ll notice a difference instantly and will probably think twice about going back to harsh, chemical-laden commercial brands again.

Have you tried natural, handmade soap? If you have, did you notice a difference? If you haven’t tried handmade soap yet, why not?

Let’s chat! Leave your comments and/or questions in the comments below, I would love to hear your thoughts and opinions.

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