Sep 25, 2006, 4:30 GMT
Hamburg, Germany - Standard soap is too strong for sensitive skin, but one in three women still use it, according to German health and beauty magazine Vital.
Standard soap causes swelling of the corneous layer, which in sensitive skin is just a third as thick as in normal skin. Too much fat and moisture are washed out as a result. Standard soap also damages the hydrolipidic film on the skin, the 'acid mantle' that protects against penetration by bacteria.
Cleansing creams, milks and gels are less aggressive, the magazine said. And it recommended washing with lukewarm water so that pores in the skin did not open wide, allowing too much protective sebum to be lost.
After washing, the face should not be rubbed vigorously dry with a towel, which would remove protective fat from pores and could worsen a condition known as teleangiectatic rosacea, or enlarged capillaries visible beneath the skin. The face should instead be gently dabbed dry.
Water should be used sparingly. A few splashes in the morning are sufficient for sensitive skin. Makeup and dirt should be washed off with cleansing milk or creams just once a day, preferably in the evening.
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