Some Things You Should Know About Soap

Among the harshest agents to assail the skin is cold weather, which forever wages a relentless war upon delicate skin without pity or mercy, leaving it cracked, rough, and in a pitiable state. Care must therefore be taken of the parts exposed to cold, damp air, so that they keep their radiance and softness. And so that you may understand exactly how to take up your means of defense, and when they must be taken up, imagine, Madam, that the outer layer of the skin is like a surface made up of roof tiles, each one set upon the edge of the next. This is nothing other than nature's great care to preserve the soundness of the skin and to prevent almost anything from passing through the pores of the outer skin into the layers within. And as a further safeguard of the skin's health, nature has furnished it with a chemical coating bearing a trace of acid, prepared by the sweat glands.

If you bear in mind these two simple facts concerning your skin, Madam, you will have taken the first steps toward the goal of preserving your skin's natural freshness. Nearly all that remains for you to do thereafter is to observe the following rules, so that the "tiles" are not loosened and the oily acid coating is not disturbed more than need be.

First — Do not overdo the washing of your hands and face with soap and water, for this destroys the oily coating and deprives the skin of it before there is time for a new coating to form — above all in winter, when the secretion of sweat from the sweat glands diminishes and the skin is covered with only a thin layer of this protective coating, which is more easily removed by washing than in the other seasons. This is a problem that besets the ladies who prepare the family's food and wash the clothes with their own hands.

Second — Do not use soap too freely. For though it is the skin's dearest friend, it does the skin great harm if you use it to excess. Soap works first to neutralize the acid in the coating, enabling water to enter the fine pores of the skin; it also turns into an emulsion by dissolving the oily matter and breaking it down in the water, and by means of this oily matter it removes the dirt clinging to the skin. It is, moreover, a deadly destroyer of germs of every kind. But because it is useful to this degree, it must not be used immoderately: in overusing it you would be like someone who drinks a whole bottle of medicine because a spoonful of that medicine is good for treating some ailment. Excessive use of soap undoes the action of the acid matter in the coating and leaves the skin cells livid or swollen. This, unfortunately, gives you an extremely sensitive feeling to the touch which invites you to use still more soap, when it ought instead to be a warning and a deterrent to stop using soap, lest the skin swell and crack and lie open to the attack of germs. In cold weather, then, use soap only in cases where cleansing truly requires it, and choose the finest and best kinds of soap. If you are obliged to use soap often, there is no harm in washing your hands, after the soap, with a little vinegar and lemon juice, which will clothe the skin in a protective acid covering until it has been furnished with its natural coating from the sweat glands. It is also well to rub the skin, along with the soap, with a little bran, for bran is good for the skin. But if your skin is too poor or too rich in oily matter, you must consult a physician specializing in the skin, that he may prescribe the effective remedy once he has learned the true cause of this unnatural condition.

Third — In the cold seasons the washing of the face and hands, or bathing, should be done in the evening shortly before sleep, rather than in the morning, for in this way you give the skin time enough to clothe itself in a new coating during sleep; and on rising in the morning it is enough to wash the face with a little lukewarm water only, to restore its liveliness and freshness. By this practice you keep the skin safe from the danger of cold and cold air.

Fourth — Dry the skin well and gently. Do not rub it roughly, lest you injure its cells, nor dry it in haste so that it remains damp and exposed to the assault of the cold. The best method of drying is to use a towel to remove the water clinging to the skin, shaking it out from time to time; then dry with a large towel, patting lightly with it so as to draw the last remaining moisture from the skin.

Fifth — Beware of using cold water for washing in winter, for it takes a long time to dissolve the soap; and beware of hot water, for it opens the cells of the skin far more than is wanted and increases the action of the soap. Lukewarm water must therefore be used, and it is preferable to wash in a wide basin rather than under the tap.

Sixth — And last: the hands must be cared for in winter, for they are exposed more than any other part to water and air. Wear wool-lined gloves when you go out of the house, and it is well to apply a little of the finest preparations, relying on your own experience more than on your habit of trusting the advertisements you read in the newspapers and magazines.