The Russian quality system (Roskachestvo) has completed the study of baby soap. This was reported on the website of the organization.

Imported and Russian samples were tested on 21 parameters, including the ability to clean, prevent bacteria growth and foam.

On the Russian market, all baby soaps are good - yes

As part of the study, experts evaluated 31 samples of baby toilet soap produced both in Russia and abroad. The study included products from Bulgaria, Germany, Italy, the United Arab Emirates, Poland, Ukraine and many regions of Russia, including the Altai Territory, Voronezh, Nizhny Novgorod and Samara regions, the Republic of Tatarstan, as well as from Moscow and St. Petersburg.

Thus, ten samples have increased hypoallergenicity and bacteriostatic activity - the ability to prevent the growth of bacteria. The quality mark will be awarded to soap "D", "Nevskaya cosmetics", "Beauty recipes", "Umka" and Baby's soap... Samples Velvet Pens, SpongeBob, Bebble, Johnsons baby and Weleda also recognized as premium goods.

Baby soap works the same way as antibacterial - no

An important vector of research was the study of soap for its cleansing properties. When checking, they refuted the consumer myth about the antibacterial properties of soap: Roskachestvo confirmed that toilet soap does not kill bacteria, but rather washes them away due to the abundance of foam.

However, high-quality baby soap should be highly bacteriostatic - the ability to prevent the growth of microorganisms - for example, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and diploid fungus, including Candida.

Bacteria can live on the surface of soap - yes

The surface of solid bar soap can become a breeding ground for bacteria. This happens if the soap was used by a person who is sick or who is a carrier of a microorganism that can cause a disease of a staphylococcal, streptococcal nature or an intestinal infection, said Rospotrebnadzor specialists.

The study showed that 60 minutes after the last use, Staphylococcus aureus was still alive on half of all the soap samples tested. This is not a violation, since this indicator is not regulated by Russian law. Nevertheless, Roskachestvo, using the recognized European test methodology, deprives these goods of the potential to receive the Quality Mark.

Baby soap is hypoallergenic - yes

As part of the study, experts examined each sample for its potential to cause allergies. In order to check whether the soap contains allergenic components, the samples were tested for early sensitization - curiously, this test was not without blood. During the study, the experts injected doses of soap into the pre-donated blood of the experts and observed whether the blood cells reacted to the allergen and in what concentration.

The higher the alkaline reaction of the soap suds, the more actively it removes the protective fatty mantle from the skin. The disappearance of the oil impregnation at times increases the aggressive effect of the chemical components of the soap, which can cause both skin irritation and an allergic reaction. Also, the reaction can be caused by fragrances, essential oils, preservatives, fragrances, various surfactants, coloring agents, as well as antibacterial components - for example, triclosan and triclocarban. If parents notice that after washing their hands or bathing, the baby's skin turns red or itches, then the brand of soap used should be changed, "says the pediatrician, allergist-immunologist, gastroenterologist, radio and television expert, head of the Smart Mom school, candidate Medical Sciences Elena Antsiferova.

However, the study did not reveal a potentially unsafe allergenic soap. However, to protect yourself from potential risks, experts advise you to carefully study the composition.

If it is written that the soap contains vaseline oil and chamomile extract, and the child is allergic to chamomile, such soap should be discarded. Information on the presence of active ingredients such as oils and extracts must always appear on the label. It is also desirable that the smell of baby soap is not too strong, "said Galina Ulantseva, chief specialist of the Association of Manufacturers of Perfumery, Cosmetics, Household Chemicals and Hygiene Products, Candidate of Technical Sciences.

Weight violations

In some bars of soap, the inspectors noted that they were underweight. Brand products "Alice" and "Tick Tock", which are indicated on the GOST packaging do not correspond to the state standard in terms of the quality number indicator, which misleads the consumer.

In two more cases under the trademarks "Baby" and Honey kid an excess in the amount of salt was found. Since these manufacturers declared on the packaging of the goods that they comply with GOST, they are violators of the standard, in contrast to two other manufacturers who exceeded it, but did not declare GOST.

Which soap kills germs, doesn't dry out and protects your skin? Experts have tested popular soap brands to
answer this question.

In addition to the usual emollient additives, soaps contain so many ingredients that you just might get confused. Unfortunately, not all of them are harmless and safe. Let's figure out which soap is right for you. The agency of expertise Product-test will help us with this.

SIDE EFFECTS

“When we dissolve (lather) soap in water, fatty acids and alkali are released,” says Yaroslav Klyuchnikov, an employee of the agency. "Such a composition effectively removes impurities from the skin, but not without a side effect: we damage the protective shell of the skin, kill beneficial bacteria and provoke the growth of pathogens."

Therefore, manufacturers adapt the composition of soaps, supplement them with softening and moisturizing additives, make it gentle on the skin.

Product-test analyzed the assortment of soaps in retail chains in 9 large cities and selected the most popular ones. Samples were sent to laboratories for testing on 6 critical criteria: skin exposure, substrate quality, foaming, detergency, packaging and piece weight.

WEIGHT

The weight of many popular soaps, according to the test results, does not correspond to the declared weight. For example, the Autumn Waltz and Absolut soap - the real weight was 10% lower! Timotei "Caribbean Assorted" has a discrepancy of up to 8%, while Monpari Lure of Flame has a discrepancy of up to 5% of the weight stated on the package.

By the way, as a rule, deviations do not exceed 2%, so in the above cases, the underweight almost certainly occurred during the production of these soaps, and not during storage or transportation.

SKIN EFFECTS

Soap from the famous Fa Senses brand "Soft Care", according to the testimonials of the test participants, tightens and dries the skin of the hands. In addition, tests have shown that it foams poorly and often cracks after a while after opening the package. While, for example, Natural "Cream-soap with silk proteins" fully justifies its name: it gently cleanses and moisturizes the skin.

QUALITY BASIS

The most alkaline in our tests were such famous soaps as Absolut "Gentle Antibacterial", Autumn Waltz
St. John's wort and Safeguard Nature. Their pH turned out to be above 10, almost like that of laundry soap! After using this soap
the skin becomes dehydrated, there are unpleasant sensations of dryness and irritation, thus the above soaps cannot be recommended for regular use.

Only Dove Go Fresh Restore and Dove Supreme Cream Oil have found optimal pH.

In general, most solid soaps have an alkaline pH that is unsafe for the skin, but you can avoid this by replacing solid soaps with liquid soaps: the composition of liquid soaps is more adapted to the needs of the skin.

It is curious that bad Ukrainian-made soap was not included in the rating, although Monpari Lure of Flame soap has poor performance. Fa Senses "Soft care" (Poland) and "Autumn waltz" St. John's wort "(Russia) were recognized as the worst.

The top ten products look like this:

1. Dove Go Fresh Restore (Germany)

2. Dove Supreme Cream Oil (Germany)

3. Natural "Cream soap with silk proteins" (Russia)

4. Clean line "Calendula" (Poland)

5. Glycerin "New" (Russia)

6. Nivea "Strawberry and Milk" (Turkey)

7. Duru Gourmet "Cherry Pie" (Turkey)

8. Johnson's Baby "With almond oil" (Greece)

9. Velvet handles "Royal argan" solid soap (Poland)

HOW THE SOAP QUALITY Was EVALUATED

Each bar soap was tested by a test group of at least 60 people. To assess the quality of the base of each solid toilet soap, three tests were carried out in the laboratory: the quality of the components used, the pH level studies and the test for the tendency to cracking from environmental humidity.

NUMBER

1 kg / year

Soap is consumed by the average citizen in Ukraine. About a thousand people every year turn to dermatologists in connection with diseases caused by poor-quality soap.

admin

People spend money on germ-killing special soaps, but does it really protect against infection and dirt? A recent experiment, reported by Medical News Today, showed that there was no significant difference in the fight against bacteria between the use of antimicrobial and traditional soaps.

Wash your hands before eating

From childhood, we are told: "Wash your hands before eating." Indeed, washing your hands with soap is a simple and effective way to get rid of infections. Hand washing removes various germs and dirt, viruses and bacteria from the skin.

At the end of the past century, in the process of combating pathogens, antimicrobial agents gained wide popularity. Soap labeled "antibacterial" is one of the types of detergents that contain elements that are effective against microbes.

Triclosan is the most popular ingredient in antibacterial soaps. Plain soap does not include such substances. But in science there is a lot of disagreement regarding the efficacy and safety of products with antibacterial properties.

The department that controls the quality of food and drugs in the United States at the end of 2013 created certain regulations for companies involved in the production of goods. One of the rules says that the manufacturer must indicate that a product with antimicrobial components is much more effective.

Triclosan soap is not always useful or effective. This is proved by various researches of scientists.

And the researchers from the University of Seoul in Korea, who conducted the experiments, set a goal to understand whether antimicrobial soap is really capable of having a greater effect.

What is Triclosan

So what exactly is triclosan. It is an antimicrobial agent that contains phenoxyphenol. The latter was created in the 60s, and since the 70s it has been used in the industry as a component that destroys microbes and fungi. Triclosan has been added to various products: cosmetics, toothpaste, shampoo, lotion. It should be noted that it is used even in the production of textiles and ceramics. This is how manufacturers try to reduce bacterial contamination and proliferation of food.

Triclosan is an effective remedy for the elimination of pathogenic microbes, viruses and fungi. But there is evidence of side effects: allergies, disorders in the endocrine system, antibiotic resistance, the possibility of bioaccumulation.

Some scientists have even found carcinogenic compounds in it. In addition, there is no clear evidence that such soap is more effective than plain soap.

The benefits of hand washing

Let's take a look at some of the health benefits of hand washing:

experts believe that half of deaths from diarrhea can be prevented by regular hand washing;
in addition, the researchers calculated that with regular hand washing, at least 1 million deaths could be prevented per year;
this hygiene rule will help reduce the risk of developing respiratory infections by 16%.

Scientists from the University of Seoul compared the two types of soaps by using them in real and laboratory conditions. The findings were published in a special edition.

Science experiment

In a scientific experiment, the soap was exposed to 20 strains of bacteria that the FDA recommends to establish antimicrobial effectiveness. The study was conducted under conditions that simulate suitable for hand washing.

Both products in the composition had the same ingredients, in addition to the fact that there was 0.3% triclosan in the antimicrobial. The microbes were exposed to 20 seconds, that is, during the interval that was considered sufficient for normal hand washing. The water was 40 and 22 degrees, since these indicators are "warm" water, which is suitable for this procedure.

Although it is best to wash your hands with warm water, the manufacturer often does not indicate the recommended temperature. But experts suggest exactly 40 degrees for tests.

The experiment showed that there is almost no difference between simple and antimicrobial soaps.

Soap testing in the laboratory was carried out using water at 22 and 40 degrees, and 16 volunteers washed their hands under 40 degrees of water. In the course of washing their hands, they followed the recommendations of the experts, and vigorously washed their hands for half a minute.

The result of this study did not find a difference between antimicrobial agent and plain soap when the water reaches 22 and 40 degrees.

Why Triclosan Doesn't Kill Bacteria

The substance is known to have antimicrobial and antifungal properties, so why doesn't triclosan kill bacteria, as the experiment reports?

Scientists believe there are several reasons for this. First of all, soap acts on the skin for a short period of time. In other studies, scientists were more likely to check compliance with the standard, which requires antibacterial soaps to act for 24 hours. As the study showed, E. coli, which was exposed to antimicrobial soap with triclosan 0.3%, was alive for another day, and after a simple soap - 3 days.

Scientists believe that the information that has been or received is an accurate reflection of the action of the soap in reality. They believe it's time for industry and law to rethink soap labeling.

The harm of antibacterial soap

What harm can antibacterial soaps do? Scientists have highlighted some of the factors that worried them when using triclosan in the creation of antimicrobial soap. Some potential risks are as follows:

health disorder. Animal experiments show that triclosan slows muscle contraction. It is not yet clear whether there is such harm to people, but if you believe the scientists from California, then triclosan can cause disruption to normal health. In order to accurately find out its harm, additional experiments are required, but no one conducted them, therefore the sale of antibacterial soap is not yet prohibited;
antimicrobial soap can also kill beneficial bacteria. In addition to health problems, such a soap will also kill beneficial bacteria from the skin. Some of them have a beneficial effect on the skin of the hands, fight against harmful microbes that provoke the onset of diseases;
there is a chance of the formation of resistant strains of microbes. Over time, if bacteria are constantly exposed to the action of triclosan, they develop resistance to it, which will make the process of dealing with them more difficult. This has happened with new strains of microbes that are resistant to certain types of antibiotics.

Antibacterial soap. Terms of use

Even if you are not afraid of everything that has been said about antibacterial soap, you should follow the rules for its use.

Using an antiseptic hand detergent too often is not beneficial. Any doctor will say that the constant use of an antimicrobial agent causes the body to develop a habit to it, because the substance loses its effectiveness.

Many microbes that cover the skin of the hands, over time, get used to triclosan and other antibacterial substances, so the desired effect is not achieved.

Besides hand soap, there are other types of antibacterial that are more beneficial.

The way out of this situation is the use of various types of antimicrobial soaps. It is wise to alternate between the use of a simple soap and an antimicrobial one. Correct option: constant change of brands, varieties and aromas.

It is important to use antimicrobial soap in a special way, slowly. An option will not work here: I quickly soaped up and washed off the soap. In order for the product to perform the functions assigned to it, you need to wash your hands for about 30 seconds, and preferably a minute. This is required because the antiseptic added to the soap is not able to act on germs in a couple of seconds.

Varieties of antibacterial soaps

There are several varieties of antibacterial soaps. Let's consider them in more detail:

For intimate hygiene.

To care for the intimate area every day, doctors advise using a gel and soap specifically for these areas, which contains disinfectant and antimicrobial components. They not only destroy the pathogenic flora, but are also hypoallergenic, do not cause dryness, and refresh. In the composition of many products, not triclosan is used, but natural elements: aloe, tea tree, chamomile. These components fight infections, inflammation of the mucous membrane. But for the treatment of STDs, such remedies are not suitable.

When buying soaps for intimate areas, choose one that contains lactic acid.

Mycoseptic soap.

Everyone knows that a fly in the ointment spoils a barrel of honey. But not everyone is aware that tar can cure diseases. Tar soap with antibacterial ingredients has long been known for its beneficial properties. It fights dermatitis, itching, irritation, cracks. It is useful for problem skin to wash with this soap twice a day for 4 weeks. In addition, it is effective for psoriasis, shingles, vitiligo, eczema, and the like.

January 16, 2014 5:55 pm

Antibacterial soap has become incredibly popular lately and is used in hospitals, offices, schools and homes. Scientists claim that antibacterial soaps are more effective against bacteria than regular soaps and help protect the body from various types of germs and diseases. Of course, you need to wash your hands with soap, because in this way we kill pathogenic bacteria, but is antibacterial soap really more effective than regular soap? The answer is likely to be negative. In this article, we'll explain why using regular soap and water is just as effective as using antibacterial soap.

The mechanism of action of regular soap

The two most important ingredients in soap are fats and lye. In the past, soap was made from animal fats, but fatty acids derived from fat are now commonly used. Fatty acids combine with sodium hydroxide, that is, alkali. Other ingredients added to soaps are fragrances and additives that help shape the texture and color of the product.

The soap may seem to you a simple remedy, but usually its effectiveness is explained by the chemical compounds of the acid and the neutralizing base. When you wet and lather your hands, the ingredients combine to retain water but repel it at the same time. Dirt and bacteria stick to the soap and wash off. Therefore, it is important to understand that soap without additional antibacterial additives will still remove bacteria from the skin.

What makes regular soap an antibacterial?

Antibacterial soap has been used as a cleaning agent in hospitals for decades. What makes soap antibacterial? Adding a special ingredient that kills bacteria. Most of the liquid antibacterial soaps sold today contain triclosan... Also often in the production of antibacterial soaps add triclocarban although it is not nearly as popular as triclosan.

Both triclosan and triclocarban are considered antimicrobial agents because they are capable of neutralizing a wide range of microorganisms. These two chemicals work by affecting the metabolism of the bacteria with which they come in contact. They differ from other antimicrobial chemicals such as alcohol and chlorine, which evaporate quickly and leave no active residues. Triclosan and triclocarban have a completely opposite effect and leave behind active residues.

What are the risks of using antibacterial soaps?

Researchers have identified several factors of concern when using antibacterial triclosan soaps in manufacturing. Some of the potential risks are:

Health problems: Animal studies have shown that triclosan slows down muscle contraction. It is not yet clear if triclosan causes the same problems in humans, but according to data from the University of California at Davis, triclosan may cause health problems. In order to find out what danger triclosan poses to human health, additional research is needed, and they have not been carried out, therefore, the US Food Administration has not yet banned the sale of antibacterial soap, but buyers should still be aware of the possible dangers;
Antibacterial soap also kills "good" bacteria... In addition to health problems, antibacterial soaps also kill the normal bacteria that live on the skin. Some of the "good" bacteria have a beneficial effect on the skin, and also fight disease-causing microbes that can trigger the development of various diseases;
Resistant bacterial strains may appear: Over time, if bacteria are constantly exposed to an antimicrobial agent such as triclosan, they become more resistant, making it difficult to fight them. This is exactly what happened with new strains of bacteria that are resistant to certain types of antibiotics.

Let's make a conclusion

While more research is needed to prove that antibacterial soaps can be harmful to the human body, most researchers agree that they are unnecessary because antibacterial soaps can be replaced with conventional soaps, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. as effective. Therefore, in order to protect yourself from various infections and diseases, you just need to wash your hands more often, and ordinary soap can help you fight infection as effectively as antibacterial.

It is important just to know how to wash your hands properly. To you, this process seems ordinary and does not require special knowledge, but many people often either wash their hands incorrectly or not often enough. Hands should be washed before preparing or eating food, before removing or putting on contact lenses, or before handling a wound. You should also always wash your hands after using the toilet, preparing food, or playing with your pet.

Hand washing technique is also an important factor. Rub your hands well using soap and water. The Mayo Clinic advises washing your hands for at least 20 seconds, making sure to wash the entire surface of your hands, including your nails, the spaces between your fingers, and the back of your hands.

Although it has not yet been proven that using antibacterial soaps can cause serious health problems, scientists advise using regular soap, which is one of the best ways to keep your hands clean and avoid illness.

baby soap. Imported and Russian samples were tested on 21 parameters, including the ability to clean, prevent bacteria growth and foam. In addition, in the study of allergenicity - the soap was tested with blood. Which soap will wash away all pathogenic bacteria, and which one will cause irritation - in the research of Roskachestvo.

As part of the study, experts evaluated 31 samples of baby toilet soap produced both in Russia and abroad. The study included products from Bulgaria, Germany, Italy, the United Arab Emirates, Poland, Ukraine, and many regions of Russia, including the Altai Territory, Voronezh, Nizhny Novgorod and Samara regions, the Republic of Tatarstan, as well as from Moscow and St. Petersburg. The laboratory testing program included 21 quality and safety indicators.

The study proved the complete safety of baby soap - not a single violation of the current safety standards was found. A third of the products are high-quality goods that meet not only the requirements of technical regulations and GOSTs, but also the increased Roskachestvo standard. Thus, ten samples have increased hypoallergenicity and bacteriostatic activity - the ability to prevent the growth of bacteria. Decision on conferring the state quality mark on goods under trade marks "D", "Nevskaya cosmetics", "Beauty recipes", "Umka" and Baby's soap the experts will accept after the assessment of production, during which the level of localization of the products will also be determined. Samples Velvet Hands, SpongeBob, Bebble, Johnsons baby and Weleda, are also recognized as goods of improved quality, but they cannot apply for the Russian Quality Mark due to their foreign origin. In addition, the study confirmed that Russian soap can compete with popular foreign brands.

An important vector of research was the study of soap for its cleansing properties. It is also important to refute the widespread consumer myth about the antibacterial properties of soap: Roskachestvo confirmed that toilet soap does not kill bacteria, but rather "washes away" them due to the abundance of foam.

However, high quality baby soap should be highly bacteriostatic - the ability to prevent the growth of microorganisms such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and diploid fungus, including Candida.

“The surface of solid bar soap can be contaminated (contamination with microorganisms harmful to human health). This happens if the soap was used by a sick person or who is a carrier of a microorganism that can cause a disease of a staphylococcal, streptococcal nature or an intestinal infection, ”they report. specialists of VNIIZHG Rospotrebnadzor.

In addition, as part of the study, experts examined each sample for its potential to cause allergies. In order to check if the soap contains allergenic components, the samples were tested for early sensitization - curiously, this test was not without blood. During the study, the experts' blood donated in advance was injected with a dose of soap, and it was observed whether the autoplaque-forming cells would react to the allergen and at what concentration of it in the blood plaques would begin to form.

“The higher the alkaline reaction of the soap suds, the more actively it removes the protective fatty mantle from the skin. The disappearance of the oil impregnation at times increases the aggressive effect of the chemical components of the soap, which can cause both skin irritation and an allergic reaction. Also, the reaction can be caused by fragrances, essential oils, preservatives, fragrances, various surfactants, coloring agents, as well as antibacterial components such as triclosan and triclocarban. If parents notice that after washing their hands or bathing, the baby's skin turns red or itchy, then the brand of soap used should be changed, "says a pediatrician, allergist-immunologist, gastroenterologist, radio and television expert, head of the Smart Mom school, candidate Medical Sciences Elena Antsiferova.

It's nice that the study did not reveal a potentially unsafe allergenic soap, however, in order to protect yourself from potential risks, experts advise you to carefully study the composition.

“If it is written that the soap contains vaseline oil and chamomile extract, and the child is allergic to chamomile, you should refuse such soap. Information on the presence of active ingredients such as oils and extracts must always appear on the label. It is also desirable that the smell of baby soap is not too strong, ”said Galina Ulantseva, chief specialist of the Association of Manufacturers of Perfumery, Cosmetics, Household Chemicals and Hygiene Products, Candidate of Technical Sciences.

In addition, as part of the study, experts paid attention to the characteristics of the soap declared on the labeling. In 13 cases out of 31, the difference between the net weight declared on the package and the real weight of the soap was more than 4.5%, however, such deviations in the real weight cannot be considered a violation, since there are no such “underweight” requirements in Russian legislation. However, these products will not qualify for the Russian Quality Mark.

Yet the study identified four formal "offenders." During the research of Roskachestvo, samples with an underestimated quality number were found. The goods under the trademarks "Alisa" and "Tik Tak", which are indicated on the GOST packaging, do not correspond to the state standard in terms of the quality number, which is misleading the consumer. Also, an underestimated quality number was found in two more products, but these samples were not made according to GOST.

“The quality number is the mass of fatty acids per bar of soap. The underestimation of the number may be associated with a reduction in the cost of the cost of the piece itself. Also, a decrease in the quality number may be due to insufficient control or associated with some kind of disruption in the production process. Subjectively, it is believed that the lower the quality number of soap, the worse its detergency, ”said Ekaterina Nesterova, executive director of the Association of Producers and Consumers of Fat and Oil Products.

By the way, there is an opinion that the longer the soap is aged, the better it becomes: drying out, the soap loses weight without losing the fatty acids it contains. Accordingly, its quality number increases. It is not for nothing that for many people of the older generation, soap first served as a fragrance for linen in the closet, and only then, after a year or more, it migrated to the bathroom.

In two more cases, under the Detskoye and Honey kid trademarks, an excess in the amount of salt was found. Since these manufacturers declared on the packaging of the goods that they comply with GOST, they are violators of the standard, in contrast to two other manufacturers who exceeded it, but did not declare GOST.

Detailed research results for each specific sample are available at