Personal soaps

Cosmetics and Personal Care Products. Alkanolamines ate important taw materials in the manufacture of creams (95—97), lotions, shampoos, soaps, and cosmetics. Soaps (98) formed from triethanolamine and fatty acids ate mild, with low alkalinity and excellent detergency. Triethanolamine lauryl sulfate is a common base for shampoos (99—101) and offers significant mildness over sodiumlauryl sulfate. Diethanolamine lauryl sulfate and fatty acid soaps of mono- and trietban olamine can also be used in shampoos and bubble bath formulations. Chemistry similar to that used in soluble oils and other emulsifiers is appUcable to cleansing creams and lotions (102,103). Alkanolamides or salts ate added to the shampoo base to give a smooth, dense foam (104). 

Soap as used in personal cleansing products has a long safe history of use. Modem soaps have been specifically formulated to be compatible with skin and to be used on a daily basis with minimal side effects. Excessive use of soap for skin cleansing can dismpt the natural barrier function of skin through the removal of skin oils and dismption of the Hpid bdayer in skin. This can result in imperfect desquamation or a dry appearance to skin and cause an irritation response or erythema, ie, reddening of the skin. Neither of these is a permanent response and the eHcitation of this type of skin reaction depends on the individual s skin type, the product formulation, and the frequency of use. 

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