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Critical assessment of the pH of children's soap

Bruna Rafaela Mendes1, Danielle Midori Shimabukuro1, Marjorie Uber1

  • 1Universidade Federal do Paraná (UFPR), Curitiba, PR, Brazil.

Jornal De Pediatria
|February 5, 2016
PubMed

Insights

Children's soaps show significant pH variability, with antibacterial soaps having the highest levels. Liquid soaps and syndets are recommended for sensitive infant skin due to their near-ideal pH.

Area of Science:

  • Dermatology and Cosmetic Science
  • Pediatric Care
  • Analytical Chemistry

Background:

  • The pH of cleansing products is crucial for maintaining the skin barrier, especially in infants.
  • Children's soaps and syndets vary widely in formulation, potentially impacting skin health.
  • Limited information is available regarding the pH of pediatric cleansing agents.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess the pH values of various children's antibacterial soaps and syndets.
  • To determine if pH information is provided on product labels for consumer awareness.
  • To correlate pH levels with product type (bar, liquid, antibacterial, syndet).

Main Methods:

  • A quantitative, cross-sectional study analyzed 90 soap and syndet samples.
  • pH was measured for each sample after a 1% dilution.
  • Statistical analyses included descriptive statistics, chi-squared tests, and t-tests.

Main Results:

  • Significant pH variations were observed between liquid (4.4-7.9) and bar soap presentations.
  • Syndets exhibited pH levels close to the ideal slightly acidic range.
  • Antibacterial soaps displayed the highest pH levels, reaching up to 11.34.
  • Only two products provided pH information on their packaging.

Conclusions:

  • The wide pH variability in children's soaps necessitates awareness among healthcare providers and consumers.
  • Liquid soaps and syndets are preferable for neonates and infants to preserve skin barrier function.
  • Product labeling regarding pH is inadequate, hindering informed consumer choice.
Abstract

Keywords:
Anti-bacterial agentsAntibacterianosChildcareConcentração de íons de hidrogênioCuidado da criançaDetergentesDetergentsHydrogen-ion concentrationSabõesSoaps

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