Washing your face versus your body….

When shopping for cleansers at the drug store, you will literally find hundreds of different options. Do you really need something different for your face than you’re your body? Here’s what you should know when making your choices.

True soaps often contain harsh detergents and an alkaline pH. These may work well to remove dirt and oil from your body, but can be irritate sensitive facial skin. They may contain additives such as fragrances and moisturizers. Fragrances mask the natural odor of the soap, which may be unpleasant. Moisturizers help soothe the skin as it is cleaned. Mild soaps are free of colors and fragrances, so they are less irritating to the skin.

Soap free cleansers are made up of synthetic detergents, known as syndets. Their pH is more acidic, similar to that of the skin. There are various different formulations of facial cleansers, and each may be bet suited towards a certain type of skin.

Your choice of cleanser depends on what type of skin you have.

-Normal skin: Cleansing bars are the most common type of cleanser and work best on patients who consider their skin “normal.” So what is normal skin? If you do not feel you are particularly oily, dry, or sensitive, you can consider yourself normal.

-Oily skin: If you are oily, the cleansing bars may not be enough, and a liquid cleanser might work best. They can remove excess sebum from the skin better than bars can.

-Dry / Sensitive skin: If you are extremely sensitive or dry skin, you might need a lipid-free cleanser, which do not contain any fats. These are used for patients who need only minimal cleansing, because they do not remove dirt and oil as well as other cleansers. They also can leave a moisturizing film on the skin after they are removed.

There are some other cleansers on the market designed to do specific jobs.

-Cleansing creams, often referred to as “cold creams,” wash and moisturize. They are most useful to remove heavy oils, like those contained in makeup. They also moisturize, but should not be left on the skin for long periods of time because they can cause irritation.

-The job of abrasive scrubs is to exfoliate dead cells from the surface of the skin while they clean. The granules in scrubs can cause redness and irritation, so you should avoid these if you have sensitive skin.

-Disposable cleansing cloths are designed to release a foaming cleanser when you get them wet. They cloth itself can exfoliate the skin, and added emollients moisturize the skin. There are various cloths on the market developed for different skin types.