My name is Marisa Ferré and in addition to working as 'Innovation Specialist' in the Beauty Cluster, also I'm working like a chemist in an office of pharmacy. Recently, I have found me a cases in which the patient comments me that the ophthalmologist has recommended him use baby soap (whose commercial brand I won't say) diluted in water to clean the lids, for the handle of the blepharitis. TBut the second one gave me the feeling that it was not something punctual, but that maybe this kind of recommendation was becoming fashionable by some doctors. By this reason, encouraged me to write an article on this.
Doing a bit of inquiry on the subject in papers, technical magazines or feedback with other chemists, I discovered various things: in the first place, they exist so much 'haters', like adherents of this alternative of cleaning for the ocular zone. In US, for example, 20 years ago that recommend it, even have arrived it to find in reviews or guides of recommendation of handle of ocular disorders to national level, and also in multiple independent studies where compares the efficiency of both options. Practically, the big majority of these studies arrive to the conclusion that there aren't significant differences in relation with the improvement of symptomatology of the blepharitis or the pathology that was analysing . After my surprise when seeing all this, denied me to accept that use soap of drink diluted went the most ideal to clean the parpados and, thus, decided to follow looking for. Fortunately, I discovered a study made by the New Zealand National Eye Center, where not only the effectiveness of both types of eye hygiene is taken into account, but also evaluates other relevant parameters such as inflammatory markers or tear film, among others. I don't pretend to put me to explain to the detail the article in question, but I want to stand out some conclusions of the study together with some nuances that have added so that all can think about it.
Firstly, the person logically will mix the shampoo with unsterilized tap water, being a potential risk of microbiological contamination. In the case to employ bottled water, neither guarantees this sterilisation and in spite of that the person decide to boil it, ask me if it will do it also in some suitable hygienic conditions of environment, utensils, areas or even to have the clean hands. Sincerely, only have to elaborate the mix, is a long and punctilious task and that doesn't compensate taking into account that they exist solutions formulated and studied specifically for the cleaning of the lid.
Afterwards, in spite of having sterile water and following some maximum hygienic guidelines, Which dilution is the suitable? How the person ensures that the mix will have the ideal concentration so that there is a clinical efficiency? Can you also do an effectiveness test at home to check? I doubt it.
Finally, is unknown the time of conservation that can have said mix and with this adds him another risk more than pollution. Taking into account that the ocular zone in this case is engaged by a disorder that causes inflammation in the edge of the lids originated in occasions by an infection, do not think that was the most suitable to risk to use a product contaminated aggravating the own disorder.
I understand that in the happened the use of shampoo of drink diluted was the only option for the cleaning of the parpados, but nowadays, this, is meaningless. With all the scientific advances and requirements that fulfil so much to level of formulation as of manufacture of the cosmetics, I don't hink that was the most suitable to have to recommend options 'amateurish', and still less than this suggestion come from of a professional of the health.
Besides, the most ironic is that practically all go with innovative electronic devices (there is not anybody that have a mobile of 20 years ago), but instead, in other respects, prefers continue made 'concotion' or 'home-made recipes' as they did it our parents or grandparents by fault of resources.
Logically, always there will be somebody that will say, that, if it has employed during a lot of years and has not happened at all grave, does not have why convert now in a problem. Then , for them, my answer is clear and conclusive: until a day happen something. As if you decide to go in motorbike without helmet, can that you never have suffered any accident, but if it gives the day in that you suffer it, a helmet can you save the life of a hit 'silly'. In both cases, saving the distances, is question to try reduce risks.
Until here my small contribution on a possible myth or urban legend or that turns surroundings to the world of the cosmetic.
What do you think about it?