- #1
Linuxkid
- 9
- 0
Evening all,
I've been curious about these caffeine soaps lately and thought that this would be the place to discuss about it.
My almost-favorite website United Nuclear claims:
"As it turns out, our good old friend Caffeine
reaches the bloodstream faster through skin absorption
than ingesting caffeinated beverages such as coffee or energy drinks."
Soap: http://unitednuclear.com/index.php? main_page=product_info&cPath=29_54&products_id=447
--------
So I browsed for chemical exposure websites and got this CDC site: http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/skin/
"Dermal Absorption
Dermal absorption is the transport of a chemical from the
outer surface of the skin both into the skin and into the body.
Studies show that absorption of chemicals through the skin can
occur without being noticed by the worker, and in some cases,
may represent the most significant exposure pathway. Many
commonly used chemicals in the workplace could potentially
result in systemic toxicity if they penetrate through the skin
(i.e. pesticides, organic solvents). These chemicals enter the
blood stream and cause health problems away from the site of entry.
The rate of dermal absorption depends largely on the outer layer of the
skin called the stratum corneum (SC). The SC serves an important barrier
function by keeping molecules from passing into and out of the skin, thus
protecting the lower layers of skin. The extent of absorption is dependent
the following factors:
Skin integrity (damaged vs. intact)
Location of exposure (thickness and water content of stratum corneum; skin temperature)
Physical and chemical properties of the hazardous substance
Concentration of a chemical on the skin surface
Duration of exposure
The surface area of skin exposed to a hazardous substance"
The last three are immediately relevant (though others are quite significant).
1. "Concentration of a chemical on the skin surface"
Shower water and initial soap concentrations are limiting factors.
2. "Duration of exposure"
Leaving it on for 1 minute versus 15 minutes would make quite a difference.
3. "The surface area of skin exposed to a hazardous substance"
Well, caffeine isn't exactly monomethylhydrazine, but an increased applied area of soap definitely would increase the total amount absorbed.
All three are no-brainer statements of course but definitely a decent place to start.
Think-Geek has a similar soap that are 4 ounce bars with
200 milligrams of Caffeine each. Comparing it to caffiene data (mg) from coffeefaq.com:
7oz coffee:
Drip 115-175mg
Brewed 80-135mg
Instant 65-100mg
It seems like coffee has no chance versus caffeine soaps,
but nevertheless I believe the actual amount of caffeine from the soap
absorbed by the body is substantially lower. (That's my personal hunch, anyways.)
It should be interesting to see what others have to say.
Cheers,
Nikos
I've been curious about these caffeine soaps lately and thought that this would be the place to discuss about it.
My almost-favorite website United Nuclear claims:
"As it turns out, our good old friend Caffeine
reaches the bloodstream faster through skin absorption
than ingesting caffeinated beverages such as coffee or energy drinks."
Soap: http://unitednuclear.com/index.php? main_page=product_info&cPath=29_54&products_id=447
--------
So I browsed for chemical exposure websites and got this CDC site: http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/skin/
"Dermal Absorption
Dermal absorption is the transport of a chemical from the
outer surface of the skin both into the skin and into the body.
Studies show that absorption of chemicals through the skin can
occur without being noticed by the worker, and in some cases,
may represent the most significant exposure pathway. Many
commonly used chemicals in the workplace could potentially
result in systemic toxicity if they penetrate through the skin
(i.e. pesticides, organic solvents). These chemicals enter the
blood stream and cause health problems away from the site of entry.
The rate of dermal absorption depends largely on the outer layer of the
skin called the stratum corneum (SC). The SC serves an important barrier
function by keeping molecules from passing into and out of the skin, thus
protecting the lower layers of skin. The extent of absorption is dependent
the following factors:
Skin integrity (damaged vs. intact)
Location of exposure (thickness and water content of stratum corneum; skin temperature)
Physical and chemical properties of the hazardous substance
Concentration of a chemical on the skin surface
Duration of exposure
The surface area of skin exposed to a hazardous substance"
The last three are immediately relevant (though others are quite significant).
1. "Concentration of a chemical on the skin surface"
Shower water and initial soap concentrations are limiting factors.
2. "Duration of exposure"
Leaving it on for 1 minute versus 15 minutes would make quite a difference.
3. "The surface area of skin exposed to a hazardous substance"
Well, caffeine isn't exactly monomethylhydrazine, but an increased applied area of soap definitely would increase the total amount absorbed.
All three are no-brainer statements of course but definitely a decent place to start.
Think-Geek has a similar soap that are 4 ounce bars with
200 milligrams of Caffeine each. Comparing it to caffiene data (mg) from coffeefaq.com:
7oz coffee:
Drip 115-175mg
Brewed 80-135mg
Instant 65-100mg
It seems like coffee has no chance versus caffeine soaps,
but nevertheless I believe the actual amount of caffeine from the soap
absorbed by the body is substantially lower. (That's my personal hunch, anyways.)
It should be interesting to see what others have to say.
Cheers,
Nikos