Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1903-09-09
THE USE OF SOAP.
Too Much Removes the Oily SUBJ
stance OF the Skin and
Causes Soreness.

A paper on the use of soap naturally
Involves the consideration of number
of facts regarding the skin and it's uses,
says Youths Companion.
The skin, by virtue of its excretory
function, rids the system CT an immense
amount Of the impurities held in solu-
ton in the watery elements of the body.
Moisture evaporates, leaving no trace
of it's presence, but the more solid por-
lions remain on the surface of the skin
and these, together with dust and CRIME,
must be removed if one would keep the
skin healthy and up to it's highest stand
ard as an eXcretOry organ.
Perhaps every one is aware that in
certain parts Of the world where water
is scarce, the use of clean sand is en-
ployed as cleansing agent for the skin.
For the mass of mankind the use Of
water is more convenient, and is, Of
course practically the Only agent en-
| ployed to rid the skin of impurities.
Soap is but an aid to assist the remov-
al of dust and CRIME by virtue of its
solvent properties. Soap is also desir-
able when the water employed is hard;'
that is, when it contains mineral prop
critics which cause it to be less solvent
than water free from mineral matter
It is unnecessary to say that all soap
used as an aid to cleansing the skin
should be of good quality, since it is we'll
known that soaps containing alkali in
free state are irritating and make the
skin dry and harsh.
The use of soap is generally omitted
or restricted on parts of the body like
the face, where the skin is thin and
where it is not subjected to the intimate
contact with dust which falls to the lot
of the hands.
When soap is employed frequently on
the face, the protective, oily substances
of the skin are removed to a greater eX-
tent than is compatible with its healthy
condition, and the same is true, although
perhaps to a less extent, in the case Of
the scalp.
After the use of soap suds On the scalp,
which is occasionally resorted to by
most persons as hygienic measure,
the use of some oily substance may be
employed with advantage. This acts as
temporary substitute until nature has
had time to replenish the hair with oil.
A better plan is to wash the scalp and
hair with water into which a teaspoon
full of vinegar has been stirred.
After exposure to sun and winds, the
use of soap on the face should never be
resorted to, but rather some soothing,
oily preparation; as, for example, vase
line, cold cream or coco butter. AS a
precautionary measure any one of these
may be used beforehand, to prevent ir-
ritation from exposure; this is especial
ly useful in very dry climates.
1t was formerly the custom to use but
termilk for the skin, and the application
of this homely remedy, as a protective
against sun and wind, is doubtless all
that it is claimed to be as preservative
of a good complexion.
The use of soap on the hands in cold
weather during exposure to winds, an
in hot weather, during exposure to sun,
should be supplemented by the use Of
an oily preparation for keeping the skin
in a healthy state and free from the
| many disorders, of greater or less sever
ity, of which weather extremes may be
the starting point.