Is There a Suitable Soap for Every Skin Type? Toward Selection Based on Skin Barrier, pH, and Tolerability
Keywords:
Skin, Soaps, Detergents, Skin Care, Atopic DermatitisAbstract
Daily selection of a skin-cleansing product is often simplified into recommendations based on categories such as dry, oily, combination, sensitive, or normal skin. However, contemporary evidence on the epidermal barrier, pH, surfactants, and the skin microbiome calls for a broader approach. The term “soap” is not synonymous with “skin cleanser”: true soaps are alkaline salts of fatty acids, whereas synthetic detergents or syndets can be formulated more flexibly to reduce lipid and protein extraction and to approach the physiologic pH of the skin surface. We argue that cleanser selection should prioritize barrier status, tolerability, surfactant system, pH, fragrance or sensitizer content, age, washing frequency, and the presence of dermatoses rather than a commercial “skin type” label. This shift helps avoid categorical recommendations about ingredients or products supported by insufficient evidence and promotes a more individualized, cautious, and clinically useful approach for primary care, dermatology, and health education.
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Data Availability Statement
No datasets were generated or analyzed for this opinion article.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Jorge Luis Valdés González, Elda María Valdés González, Sara Fermanda Sigcho Romero (Autor/a)
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