Can You Use Black Soap Every Day? Risks & Benefits

African black soap is made from natural ingredients, such as the ash of cocoa pod, plantains, palm tree leaves, and palm kernel oil. It may contain other ingredients, such as shea butter, lime, aloe vera gel, camwood (a tree native to Central and West Africa), and honey.

Black soap originated in West Africa but is now available in most parts of the world. Authentic African black soap is unscented and appears brown or gray. It has an uneven surface with crumbly or flaky edges.

Because black soap has an uneven surface, you may even it out with the help of a flat knife or spatula before directly using it on your skin. The uneven surface can be rough for your skin and result in skin irritation. Another option is to first make lather using soap and water and then apply the lather on your face or other areas.

Some people, especially those with dry skin, complain of increased skin dryness with daily use of black soap. To avoid this, check the label to ensure there are no artificial fragrances, dyes, or other additives in the soap. Choose a black soap with added shea butter. You can also use a good moisturizer every time you use black soap. This will help keep your skin soft and avoid additional skin dryness.

Generally, people with oily or combination skin do not have these complaints about black soap use. They may, however, still want to use an oil-free or any other moisturizer suitable for their skin type after using black soap. The drying effect of black soap with daily use may trigger acne in people with oily skin. Thus, adequate moisturization is essential.

People with all skin types must perform a patch test by washing a small area of the skin with black soap before using it on the face or a larger area on the body. If you experience a rash, itching, or burning, you should avoid using black soap.

African black soap is all-natural, making it suitable for almost everyone. Possible benefits of using black soap include:

• Cleans the skin
• Fights acne
• Reduces blemishes or uneven skin tone
• Fights bacterial skin infections, such as Escherichia coli and staph infections
• Fights fungal skin infections
• Removes makeup
• Relieves razor bumps
• Relieves skin inflammation

Although black soap does not cause any serious side effects, it’s a good idea to get approval from your dermatologist before using it for the first time. This is especially true for people with sensitive skin or those with skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis.