© Nella Naturals 2021, All Rights Reserved. If you’re like me, you often hear about how dangerous lye is, but never hear any details. But today’s soap makers carefully measure the amount of lye they add to soap so you won’t have to worry about lye drying out your skin. Do not use lye if you have cast iron pipes. A tip that is probably common – lye is a strong base, so keep apple cider vinegar out to counteract the lye if it comes in contact with your skin. Modern lye typically is the chemical sodium hydroxide, but potassium hydroxide was once the chemical compound that was commonly used. But commercial soap producers rarely leave anything but a trace of glycerin in the soap. Then, they used a mixture of water and baking soda to penetrate the ashes and help remove the lye from them. The acid mantle provides a film of amino/lactic acids and oils that effectively protect skin from environmental factors such as bacteria, allergens, and pollutants that contribute to premature aging and irritation. Once the soap reaches the trace state, glycerin soap makers cook the mixture with sugar and alcohol before pouring it into the mold. Instead, they remove most of it to sell to fertilizer and explosive companies. If you splash lye water on your hands or clothes, immediately rinse the affected area with water. THOSE RELATIONSHIPS MAY AFFECT HOW WE REVIEW AND RANK PRODUCTS OR SERVICES MENTIONED ON THE SITE. A pH less than 7 is acidic. Lye can cause chemical burns if it comes in contact with skin. Whether in a flake, granular or liquid form, it is very dangerous and can cause damage to surfaces and people. However, it is primarily used in the washing and chemical peeling of produce. References: Rubbing or splashing vinegar onto a lye splash will cause a thermal burn over the chemical burn you already have. It is true that vinegar will neutralize sodium hydroxide, but it will also release an energy that will increase the heat…..and that can further burn your skin. After all, if lye is in our soap, how bad can it be? Lye is so toxic that it will eat through certain substances, causing it to damage many materials. Next, they filtered out the ashes. Let me repeat that in case you’re as astounded as I was. It comes from when people first began making lye to use in their soaps. It is most corrosive after being dissolved. However, it is primarily used in the washing and chemical peeling of produce. Vinegar can make lye burns worse. But hang on, because my research led me to some conclusions that may surprise you. Sodium hydroxide is a highly alkaline ingredient that is used in small amounts in cosmetics and skincare products to establish and hold the pH of a product. I understand if you are concerned about using such an ingredient in your skincare but sodium hydroxide has a little hidden talent. This extra step not only ensures that no lye remains in the soap, but it also produces glycerin. Cosmetic Ingredient Review, 2015. ‘Safety Assessment of Inorganic Hydroxides as Used in Cosmetics, Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel. While it is true that vinegar (an acid) will neutralize lye (a base), there are two things that are troublesome regarding the use of vinegar on skin in contact with lye (sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide): 1. Medicinal claims that lye soap will cure psoriasis, dandruff, head lice and a host of other common skin problems and infestations may be partly true. And if you get the lye wet, it’s even more dangerous. However, that only applies to liquid lye, the pure chemical solution. Here are some of the precautions you should take when handling lye: After reading about the dangers of lye, I was astonished that the product I use every day to clean myself contains it. If swallowed, lye will burn the esophagus and can cause death. If lye is spilled onto the skin, rinse immediately with cold running water for a minimum of 15 minutes. When the tallow is heated with dissolved lye, the cap separates from the legs. How does lye work in soap? In chemistry, pH stands for ‘potential hydrogen’ and it refers to the level of acidity or alkalinity in a given solution. I set out to find the answer to this question because I was thinking about making my own soap. That’s where they get nitroglycerin. Stay with me because I’m about to give you an unexpected answer to your question. After, if your burn is painful, seek medical attention. A lye is a metal hydroxide traditionally obtained by leaching wood ashes, or a strong alkali which is highly soluble in water producing caustic basic solutions. Lye is a corrosive strong base. So what is lye and how is it used in soap making? Any skin or hair cleansing product made without sodium hydroxide is not soap, it is detergent. Sodium hydroxide has a pH value of 13, which means that it is highly basic, or alkaline and is mainly used in the manufacturing of soaps and cleansers. This could cause thermal burns as well as chemical burns if the spill occurs on the skin. Click to see full answer Correspondingly, what does Lye do to skin? Cleaning Benefits. Do not mix lye with other chemicals. has approved sodium hydroxide as GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe) as a direct food additive. For people live in a low hygiene area (such as near polluted river, … Many perceptions of lye have nothing to do with modern soap-making. The skin’s normal pH is slightly acidic, typically between 4.5 and 5.75. What Is Isohexadecane? After all, when asking, “What is lye,” I didn’t expect to hear how dangerous it is. It is good againts fungal infection. But after reading the possible consequences of working with lye, I’ve decided that the risk just isn’t worth it for my family and me. According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), soap isn’t soap unless it contains an alkali such as lye. On the other hand, a product that is too alkaline is detrimental because it depletes your skin of vital, natural fats or lipids. Concentrated sodium hydroxide is a strong irritant and corrosive to the skin, eyes, respiratory tract, and gastrointestinal system if ingested. Lye soap is famed for its ability to fend for both dry and oily skin. And if you cure the soap for three to four weeks, there is no oil, water, or lye left in the soap. People use lye for all sorts of products that you probably use around the house every day. At the beginning of the soap making process, you will mix water, oil, and lye. So I wanted to find out the truth about this substance. But glycerin is a product of saponification. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Everything You Need to Know about Hyaluronic Acid. Lard is used to make lye soap. Lye is an alkaline chemical that is known for its caustic nature. OTHER COMPANIES’ MARKS USED ON THIS SITE REMAIN THE INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY OF THEIR RESPECTIVE OWNERS. And will you try to make your own soap, or will you buy from someone who is experienced enough to work with the chemical without risk? To understand how the soap fends oily skin, here is a quick overview of how oily skin works: Generally, oily skins have overactive oil glands. I’ve heard stories of the soap maker ordering everyone out of the house when handling the lye because they feared for their family. A pH of 7 is neutral. So while it may not generate much foaming, it does generate heat. However, for the blog today we are focusing on how and why lye is made and its multiple uses. Acetyl glucosamine is a skin-replenishing ingredient that helps to reduc... What Is Acetyl Hexapeptide 8? If you are familiar with lye you made have heard some scary things. Most dermatologists don’t recommend alkaline cleanser despite their growing popularity. The pH of cosmetics and skincare products is important to maintain the skin’s normal pH as closely as possible. Consequently, this alters the bacterial flora composition on the skin and the activity of the enzymes in the upper layers of skin, as these have an optimal pH level. Who is it for?All skin types except those that have an identified allergy to it. Just as water does, vinegar will create intense heat when in contact with lye. If you get lye solution or raw soap on your skin, rinse thoroughly with lots of cool water. Lye mixes with oil and saponifies, or becomes soap. It turns out those natural soap bars are okay, after all. GRANDMA’S Lye Soap is NOT harmful to skin. When mixing lye, use eye protection, and gloves, Cover the surface area where you are working with newspaper, If you get burned while working with it, dab vinegar on the area to help relieve the pain, Don’t lean over the lye mixture, but stand back and don’t breathe in the fumes, Only use heat-proof containers when mixing lye or they could crack or melt, allowing the lye to escape, Have a readily available water source nearby in case you get burned, Thoroughly wash your hands after handling lye because even one unseen grain can cause major irritation. Contact With Skin or Eyes. ‘Safety Assessment of Inorganic Hydroxides as Used in Cosmetics, Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel. Now, it’s easy to purchase lye beads or flakes that are not nearly as dangerous to work with (although you still need to … Directly to your inbox. Step 2 Place 2 to 3 tsp. For instance, drain cleaners contain lye, as do paint strippers and silver polish. This acidity of the skin is termed the skin’s ‘acid mantle’ and is maintained by sebaceous glands, sweat glands, and normal skin flora. This is why knowledgable formulators are so important. Don’t worry that a brief exposure will eat your skin off or anything drastic like that; it feels similar to a stinging sunburn until it’s rinsed off, but you do want to rinse it off quickly. Sodium hydroxide lye is highly caustic and has the potential to burn the skin. That’s because manufacturers know that glycerin is valuable. A sprinkling of lye will merely irritate the skin but can be more dangerous if it’s mixed with water.) Cosmetic Ingredient Review, 2015. Lye really gets going when you bake it, though, and that's why one genuinely beloved application of lye is in baking soft pretzels. Never leave your lye unattended, even for a minute. But because lye has the potential to be extremely dangerous,  it’s important to take every safety precaution when making cold process soap. Lye soap can easily be made in the home. the not so good:Sodium hydroxide is highly caustic but it is usually fully used up in the process. But the most common use for lye is soap. For those people who like to make their own soap, they have to work with lye. In addition to its presence in cosmetics and personal care products, sodium hydroxide is used in many different industries, for instance, in the manufacture of pulp and paper, textiles, drinking water, soaps and detergents, and as a drain cleaner. Lye is sodium hydroxide. In fact, a study on skin products found that using an alkaline cleanser, even once, can do significant damage to the skin as an alkaline cleanser disrupts the skin’s acid mantle. When working with it, the lye can damage surfaces that it comes into contact with, including your skin. Sodium hydroxide comes into being when soda (sodium carbonate) and lime (calcium hydroxide) come together and cause a chemical reaction. So how did people come to believe that lye soap dries out the skin? No lye -- No soap! Once curing is complete, the soap will have no traces of lye. Sure, you can make something that looks like soap, but soap it is not. That doesn’t seem like great news for those of us who strive to use natural soap products. In most cases, the sodium hydroxide is not present in the final product. Only 1 or 2 tbsp. Stearyl alcohol is a natural fatty alcohol that is used as an emollient, em... What Is Acetyl Glucosamine? Process To Make Lye They didn’t have the sophisticated measuring devices that we do today. Sodium hydroxide is approved for use in cosmetics and personal care products in varying concentrations: 5% by weight in nail cuticle solvents, 2% by weight in hair straighteners for general use, 4.5% by weight in hair straighteners for professional use, up to a pH 12.7 in depilatories, and up to pH 11 in other uses as a pH adjuster. Like driving a car, sodium hydroxide is safe when handled properly. Lye is a chemical compound found in many household products. All REAL soap is made with lye (sodium hydroxide mixed with liquid). But if you’re in the business of making or selling soap, these perceptions persist and are part of your life. The severity of effects caused by sodium hydroxide is a function of the concentration, the pH, the length of tissue contact time, and local conditions and skin type. Sodium hydroxide has a pH value of 13, which means that it is highly basic, or alkaline. What about you? On one hand, if a product is too acidic it may irritate the skin or cause a stinging sensation. Sodium hydroxide was historically used in the formulation of soaps but is also found in a variety of formulas, including bath products, cleansing products, fragrances, foot powders, hair dyes and colors, makeup, nail products, personal cleanliness products, shampoos, shaving products, depilatories, skincare products. Isohexadecane is an ingredient used in skincare and cosmetic formulations to... What is Stearyl Alcohol? You can use this chemical when making soap, but it won’t produce a hard bar of soap. Under high heat and pressure, lye can turn corrosive enough to disintegrate fat, bones and skin. Then the curing process begins and after a few days the lye, water, and oil is transformed into soap. Despite its hazardous nature, it is used in many common household pr… Mon - Fri, 10am - 6pmSaturday, 10am - 4pmSunday, Closed. If lye gets into the eyes, immediately remove any contacts you might be wearing and rinse with cold running water for a minimum of 15 minutes. The majority of safety concerns with lye are also common with most corrosives, such as their potentially destructive effects on living tissues; examples are the skin, flesh, and the cornea.Solutions containing lyes can cause chemical burns, permanent injuries, scarring and blindness, immediately upon contact. The result was a soap that was harsh and drying on the skin. Instead, soaps made with this alternative chemical are soft and liquid. What’s left is soap, pure and simple. They used it for tanning hides and making soap. Also, regarding the pretzels, there is food grade lye which is commonly used in baking as well as other food preparation. Also, lye crystals should always be swept up dry and not poured over with vinegar. This process is called saponification. When working with it, the lye can The glycerin in the soap moisturizes dry skin, so there is no need to apply lotions. Lye burns are considered chemical burns and need to be treated immediately and diligently 1. As the chemicals harden, the liquid becomes a soap bar. But other natural soap companies provide glycerin soap that contains all of the moisturizing benefits that you would expect. If you are asking the question: Is there lye in a bar of Chagrin Valley Natural Soap or Shampoo? But here’s a word of advice: be cautious when buying natural glycerin soap. Synergetic ingredients:Works well with most ingredients. Soap making involves a chemical process where lye and oils are combined in exact amounts to form soap. Even though typical formulations only use a small amount of sodium hydroxide in order to adjust the pH, which is usually used up in the chemical reaction, if a product is too alkaline it can damage your skin. You may have heard that using lye soap will dry out your skin. Sure, we have heard horror stories about the harshness of lye as a product on skin, but in order to make soap, you have to have lye. To make lye, they would burn hardwoods at high temperatures to make white ashes. Sodium hydroxide, also known as lye or caustic soda, is a white solid compound that is used for its basic or alkaline properties, think opposite of acidic. A pH greater than 7 is basic. Also, what does Lye do to skin? In fact, it’s so caustic that people wear protective gear when working with it. of lye directly into the hole of the clogged drain. Old recipes retained some caustic lye in the final product, which acted as a rough antiseptic. While the lye may be slightly risky to work with (too much lye can burn the skin), it is easy and possible to make, saving your home some money every month. Lye can burn the skin and damage the eyes in the dry or wet form. It is a white solid ionic compound consisting of sodium cations Na+ and hydroxide anions OH−. That left them with water that held enough lye to make soap and dissolve the fat from the animal hides. When lye mixes with oil, it becomes soap after it saponifies. Wear gloves and eye protection, avoid inhaling vapors, and avoid skin contact. We all know that glycerin is a great soap because it moisturizes the skin so well. Lye is white in solid form and easily dissolves in water. Other names for lye are NaOH, soda lye and caustic soda. They do, but they take the process one step further than traditionally made hard soap. The sodium from the lye goes with the legs to form soap, while the hydrogen and oxygen together join with the cap to become glycerin. And the damage is cumulative: the longer you use it, the more damage it does to your skin. The small amounts of glycerin helped to soothe the resulting skin irritation. It can dissolve sticky substances such as fat and has a high degree of reactivity with other materials. Lye is an alkaline chemical that is known for its caustic nature. Lye is a caustic, alkaline chemical that is useful for many purposes but also is hazardous. And lye is made up of sodium, hydrogen and oxygen (sodium hydroxide), which splits apart when dissolved in water. Lye soap has the great benefit of being good at breaking down dirt, … It is good to keep in mind that sodium hydroxide is a versatile ingredient. The main function of sodium hydroxide in cosmetics and personal care products is to establish and hold the pH of a product. Step 3 Turn on the faucet for one to two seconds to dispense enough water to wet the lye. EXCLUDING INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY OWNED BY OTHERS, ALL SITE CONTENT IS COPYRIGHTED OR LICENSED FOR USE BY THE OWNER OF THIS SITE. It is also commonly used to relieve the itching caused by insect bites, poison ivy, and sunburn. But here’s the deal: it doesn’t work. TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE DETAILS OF THESE RELATIONSHIPS AND HOW PRODUCTS ARE RANKED ON OUR SITE, PLEASE READ THE "FULL DISCLOSURE" AND "METHODOLOGY" SECTIONS. If you came here asking, “What is lye,” you likely have a much better understanding of the chemical. If you’re into natural products that are kind to your body and the environment, you may have some concerns about lye. Keep an eye on:There are many other uses of sodium hydroxide, including dye, drain cleaner, soaps, nail products and makeup. What Are Parabens – And Are They Bad For You? Lye soap, and any other soap, is an effective treatment for poison ivy--if used soon after exposure, the soap will wash away the oil that causes the allergic reaction and blisters. Not when I can purchase natural soaps at great prices — without all the risks of working with lye. When lye and vinegar are mixed it creates an exothermic reaction. ... Lye is extremely caustic and will burn your skin. The United States Food and Drug Administration has approved sodium hydroxide as GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe) as a direct food additive. During this process, the sodium hydroxide is actually completely used up in the reaction and isn’t present in the final product. Alklais range from weak to strong. I know I did. Lye is a pretty serious chemical, and if you plan to use it while making soap, you would be wise to handle it cautiously. When mixed with water, it can cause a fire. It’s a humectant, which is a natural moisturizer that bonds to everything it comes into contact with. Best Skin Whitening Lightening Creams 2020, Difference Between Humectant, Emollient, Occlusive, Everything You Need to Know About Peptides. What is lye, and why do natural soap makers use it? It comes in liquid form, flakes, or crystals. It is a highly reactive substance when mixed with other chemicals or materials and an alkaline chemical that can dissolve fats. Sodium hydroxide, also known as lye and caustic soda, is an inorganic compound with the formula NaOH. Worldwide production in 2004 was approximately 60 million tons, while demand was 51 million tons. At first, you have lye, water, and oil. If you came here asking, “What is lye,” did you get your answer? Additionally, a disrupted acid mantle will not allow for products to absorb into the skin as well. THE OWNER OF THEDERMREVIEW.COM HAS MATERIAL BUSINESS RELATIONSHIPS WITH ADVANCED DERMATOLOGY, CARROT & STICK & FORMULYST, WHOSE PRODUCTS WE ALSO REVIEW AND RANK. Use this popup to embed a mailing list sign up form. Lye, after all, is also known as caustic soda, and soap made from lye is what frontier women made in cauldrons that was great on clothes but murder on skin. Contact with lye may cause damage to the eyes and severe burns on the skin. That makes them very caustic, meaning they can give you a chemical burn if you touch them with unprotected skin. In cases where it is, the pH is usually carefully managed so as to not disrupt the skin. Remember, the saponification process eliminates all traces of it. Even though science proves that lye poses no threat to us because it doesn’t exist in the soap bars we use, some people persist in trying to make soap bars without lye. And what is involved in that process? Without lye, there is no soap. The answer is "No." And the only alternative to lye is potassium hydroxide. It’s a common misconception that manufacturers don’t use lye in glycerin soap. As sodium hydroxide is highly basic it is caustic, making it a great product to clean drains and strip away grease and grime. United States Food and Drug Administration. But then you cure the soap and everything changes. Sodium hydroxide is used to saponify oils, meaning that it allows oils to lather and foam in soaps and cleansers. If lye comes in contact with your skin, it begins to react with surface oils—a painful prospect! 8 Best Soaps for Eczema Reviewed How Soap Affects the Biology of Skin Lye is an alkali, also known as a base (versus an acid). And that caused them to add too much lye to the soap. Handcrafted soap from scratch cannot be made without lye and the history of lye in soap-making is long and rich. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sHcNF3tXhlo. the good:Soaponifies oils so that they can be used in soaps and cleansers. After all, the substance is known for being so caustic that people have to wear safety glasses to use it. I assumed that the natural soaps I use are good for my body and not filled with harsh chemicals. The pH scale ranges from 0 to 14. Lye can corrode lots of things like metal, plastic, paint, cloth, and your skin. Promotions, new products, and sales. Luckily, after completing the soap making process, there is no lye in the finished product. There are several types of lye, the most known and most commonly used being NaOH, sodium hydroxide, and KOH, potassium hydroxide. THIS SITE IS FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY AND SHOULD NOT BE USED AS A SUBSTITUTE FOR ADVICE OR TREATMENT FROM A QUALIFIED MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL. I’d love to hear about your decision in the comment section below! All are metal hydroxides and are very basic (alkaline), meaning they have a very high pH. After you cure the soap for weeks, no lye remains in the soap. Lye can cause blindness if it … Before you could buy lye in a bottle, people used to make it from raw materials. That’s why glycerin soap is so moisturizing and healthy for your skin. But remember, no lye remains in the soap that you use. By doing so, toxins, bacteria, and other unhealthy substances are able to penetrate deeper into the skin where they can do long-term harm. Additionally, lye soap doesn't contain fragrances or other synthetic ingredients that can irritate skin, so many people with conditions like eczema and psoriasis use it too. It also releases fumes, when mixed with water, that can harm the lungs. Offer incentives to customers to join and build your mailing list.

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