Skin Cleansing with Synthetic Detergents Chemical, Ecological, and Clinical Aspects

Over the last 35 years, synthetic detergents have become increasingly important as skin cleansing agents. With the vast range of soaps and synthetic cleansers available nowadays, doctors and pharmacists are expectedto advise on how to cleanse normal as well as diseased skins. Sound advice must include knowledge of the nature, composition, and action of the available surfactants and cleanser preparations, the physiology and pathophysiology of the skin surface, the microbial ecology ofthe skin, and the factors that control the skin flora. Much of this knowledge is the result of recent research. Health care professionals must be familiar, not only with the benefits, but also with the possible adverse effects of synthetic detergents on the human skin (roughness, water loss, etc.) and on the environment. This monograph draws upon the expertise of numerous scientists to present a comprehensive view of the subject.

The Use of Synthetic Detergents for Skin Cleansing Historical Background.- From Soap Avoidance to Skin Cleansing with Synthetic Detergents — Moving into the Clinical Dimension.- Skin Cleanser Chemistry of the Chemistry of Synthetic Detergents.- Synthetic Detergents — Syndets — the Concept.- Soap — Chemical Constituents.- Synthetic Cleansers — Chemical Constituents.- Composition of Commercial Synthetic Skin Cleansers.- The Use of Synthetic Detergents in Oral Hygiene Products — Effects on the Gingiva.- Physiological and Pathophysiological Aspects of the Use of Synthetic Detergents for Skin Cleansing Skin pH.- The Physics of pH and Surface pH Measurement.- Determination of Skin Surface pH in Healthy Subjects Methods and Results of Clinical Studies.- Skin Surface pH in the Population at Large Measured Data and Correlation with Other Parameters.- Skin Flora.- Principles of Bacterial Ecology.- Composition of the Skin Flora.- Marchionini’s Acid Mantle Concept and the Effect on the Skin Resident Flora of Washing with Skin Cleansing Agents of Different pH.- In-Vitro Control of the Growth of Important Bacteria of the Resident Skin Flora by Changes in pH.- Skin Surface Structure.- Structure of Human Skin, and Influence of Environmental Factors Such as pH on the Growth of Keratinocytes — Results of Cell Culture Experiments.- Skin Roughness — Measuring Methods and Dependence on Washing Procedure.- Skin Hydration (Transepidermal Water Loss) — Measuring Methods and Dependence on Washing Procedure.- Beneficial Effects of Synthetic Detergent Cleansers in Human Trials Under Simulated Use Conditions.- Cleansing Action of Synthetic Detergents — Methodology of Determination.- Clinical Assessment of Synthetic Detergent Cleansers in Subjects with Problem Skin.- Adjuvant Treatment with Synthetic Detergent Preparations in Atopic Dermatitis.- The Use of Synthetic Skin Cleansers in Neonates and Infants.- Unwanted Effects of Synthetic Detergent Cleansers when Used in Normal or in Diseased Skin.- Allergological Evaluation of Synthetic Skin Cleansers.- Factors Involved in the Irritancy Testing of Synthetic Cleanser Constituents.- Quality Assurance and Environmental Aspects of Synthetic Detergent Skin Cleansers.- Biopharmaceutical Aspects of Synthetic Detergent Skin Cleansers.- Quality Control of Synthetic Detergent Cleansers.- Environmental Aspects of Synthetic Detergent Preparations.- The Use of Synthetic Detergent Skin Cleansers.- The Use of Synthetic Detergent Skin Cleansers — The Cosmetic Chemists’s View.- The Use of Synthetic Detergent Skin Cleansers — The Community Pharmacist’s View.- The Use of Synthetic Detergent Skin Cleansers — The General Practitioner’s View.- The Use of Synthetic Detergent Skin Cleansers — The Consultant Dermatologist’s View.