Why Soap Burns Your Eyes So Much
The front surface of your eyes is very sensitive, Any little bump or scratch can be painful. But soap can feel extra irritating because it messes with the pH of your eyes.
A measure of the acidity in an environment, pH is indicated with a number between 0 and 14. Substances with a pH under 7 are acidic, while those with a pH over 7 are alkaline. Eyes have a pH around 7, which is neutral. Many soaps have a pH range of 9-10 and some shampoos have a pH range of 7-8.
Left unchecked, the soap could damage mucous membranes, which can lead to swelling and eye infection. But thankfully, the irritation causes reflex tears. These tears are the eye's way of washing out the soap,.
That said, tears alone often don't do the trick quickly enough to satisfy our modern-day (read: low) pain thresholds. You can give them a hand by flushing your eyes with plenty of water. Pure water has a pH of 7. It's neutral, just like your eye itself. Normally, you don't want to use regular water to flush your eye because it may have contaminants-a sterile over-the-counter eye wash is best. But this is an exception to that rule.
Because soap in your eyes hurts so much, most people rush to rinse it out. That's good. Acting fast means the surface of your eye has been exposed to only very small amounts of soap and it will recover quickly.
How to get soap out of your eyes
Don't rub your eyes. The stinging is caused by the ingredient sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), a foaming agent. Rubbing your eyes can activate this ingredient and worsen your symptoms.
While in the shower, close your eyes and lean over from your waist to prevent more shampoo entering your eyes. Stay in this position as you rinse out the suds. Don't tilt your head forward, because this will allow more shampoo to drip down.
Rinse your eyes with cool water. In the shower, open your eyes wide and turn your face upwards to receive a gentle stream of water. Turn your head from side to side to catch enough water. If you're out of the shower, cup cool water from the sink in both your hands and splash it in your eyes repeatedly.
Try to cry! Of course, your eyes might already be filled with natural tears. But if not, forcing yourself to cry can help remove any irritating suds.
