is known for its ability to deeply cleanse the skin's pores.
Black soap is a product that comes from central Africa and is made of organic ingredients, including shea butter. It is well known for its ability to deeply cleanse the skin, remove blemishes and makeup, and help minimize razor bumps that result from shaving. Although it does not contain specific antimicrobial ingredients, many people prefer this soap because it does not cause resistant bacteria growth. Black soap should not be used in medical settings due to its inability to directly kill microorganisms.
Identification
Black soap is also called Alata Samina or Anago Samina, which traditionally comes from the certain regions of West Africa. It is used to help clean the skin's pores to prevent acne, blemishes and dark spots. There are numerous benefits of soap, although it is most well known to clean the face, aiding in removing makeup, reducing oily skin and relieving skin conditions, including eczema, hives, ringworm and skin rashes.
Presence of Microorganisms on Skin
There are numerous microorganisms that exist on the human skin. Some pathogens are harmful, and others actually help regulate such microorganisms. Using black soap helps rinse away microorganisms, but it does not kill them. Instead, normal levels of them are maintained, thus preventing the emergence of mutating bacteria.
No Antimicrobial Ingredients
African black soap lacks a key ingredient used in killing microorganisms, known as Triclosan. This chemical damages the cell walls of bacteria, effectively slowing their growth until they later die. Thus, although black soap can remove dirt, germs may still remain on the skin since the soap does not contain Triclosan. Instead, when the soap is scrubbed into the skin, it helps release oils on the surface of the skin that can kill bacteria, and in the end the dirt is carried away after rinsing.
Considerations
Although organic soaps such as black soap do not contain Triclosan to kill microorganisms, many people prefer products with natural sources. One reasons for this preference is that Triclosan can potentially cause the development of "super germs," or antibiotic-resistance bacteria, creating a genetic mutation. These types of bacteria could then proliferate, eventually making it more difficult for people to treat skin-based infections.
Shea Butter as a Key Ingredient
Most African black soap is comprised of at least 50% shea butter. This ingredient has many benefits of soothing blemished skin and cleaning pores, although it does not compare to chemically-manufactured elements such as Triclosan in regard to killing mircoorganisms. Due to the ingredients present in African black soap, it is not recommended for medical use.
Tags: black soap, African black, African black soap, ability deeply, cleanse, black soap