SKIN CLEANSERS, SOAPS, AND DETERGENTS

The ability of any cleanser to clean is related to its ability to be a "wetting agent". Soaps have been around for centuries though perfected in only the past 50 years. They are made from fats (usually an animal fat) that have been saponified, or chemically treated, using a strong caustic base such as lye (sodium hydroxide).

Soaps are usually harsh, quite drying to skin, and have very limited "wetting" potential. Remember back to the last time you tried to clean a fine crystal wine glass with regular "bar soap" as compared to using a newer "dish detergent".

Detergents utilize a different technology to gain wettability. Detergents are synthetically made. They have polarized molecules (positive at one end and negative at the other). This causes dirt particles to align like magnets standing lined up along the surface of whatever you are trying to clean. Multiple particles may be removed easily at the same time with the detergent.

This ability is the detergent effect. The length of the detergent's individual molecules and, to some extent, the chemical fine structure allows different types of oils to be selectively removed. It is possible to design and produce cleansers that are specific for the particle types one wishes to remove.

Soaps can only work on individual dirt particles one at a time and are therefore least effective. Detergents (such as used at home for dishes) are powerful, but very drying to skin, as they remove the natural skin oils in addition to the deposits of dirt, grime, and dead skin cell debris.

Theraderm Cleansing Wash utilizes a different molecular structure in the active ingredient that gently yet selectively removes the "road grime" while sparing the natural (and fragile) skin-oil substances. Theraderm can do this by utilizing a lipophilic (oil wetting) molecule that also has a polarizing (the magnet-like) characteristic.

Theraderm Cleansing Wash has the benefits of both a soap and of a powerful detergent without the negative qualities of either. The end result is to allow skin to be “squeaky” clean skin while preserving much of the precious natural skin oils present, and thus to better absorb other skin products to restore skin health and a more youthful appearance.

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INTRO TO SKIN • SKIN CANCER • SECRETS OF AN EFFECTIVE MOISTURIZER
EXFOLIATION • SKIN CLEANSERS, SOAPS, AND DETERGENTS