Research Summary
The correct choice of cosmetic products and cleansers is crucial for improving skin hydration, providing moisturizing benefits, and minimizing cutaneous damage caused by surfactants. Surfactants, while essential for cleansing, can damage protein structures and solubilize lipids, leading to skin irritation.
Soaps, which are the alkali salts of fatty acids, are among the oldest surfactants but tend to be quite aggressive on the skin. In contrast, syndets (synthetic detergents) vary in their composition and types of surfactants, which include anionic, cationic, amphoteric, and non-ionic varieties. These modern skin cleansing products also contain preservatives, fragrances, and sometimes emollients, humectants, and skin nutrients to provide additional benefits.
This literature review presents recent findings regarding the efficacy of skin cleansers and their impact on skin health.
Keywords: cutaneous cleansers, irritation, occlusive patch test, open test, surfactants, syndet
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