What happens if you eat soap? Answered by a gastroenterology doctor

Soap is a hygiene product that we come into contact with every day. A pleasant fragrance may encourage a child or pet to taste it. Here’s a look at what consequences to expect.

Soap is inedible?

I am professionally engaged in soap making from natural oils and exclusively natural ingredients

Soap is a product of alkaline hydrolysis of fatty acids, oils and fats. It may also contain other substances that improve its consumer properties, such as talc, antiseptics, fragrances, dyes, glycerin.

The product may well be made of edible substances, but in the process of reaction of oils with an aqueous solution of alkali, they turn into unusable substances.

The acid-alkaline balance of soap ranges from eight to 10 or even 12 units. And although it is not the most aggressive detergent (the balance of consumable products is in the range of three to 10 units), nevertheless, to understand how much soap can irritate the gastric mucosa, it is enough to remember the example of the effect of the product on the mucosa of the eye.

Soap dissolves the protective tear film, which has fats in its composition. Surfactant molecules (surfactants) penetrate into the tissue and irritate nerve endings – a burning sensation is felt. Getting into the stomach cavity, it also negatively affects the mucosa and can cause poisoning.

What happens if you eat soap?

founder of the brand of natural cosmetics Sota Cosmetics, soap maker

Soap is a cosmetic product intended for external use only, and it is absolutely impossible to eat it. Now on the market there are many products that look and smell very appetizing and cause a desire to taste it. However, already at the first contact with the taste buds it becomes clear that the product is inedible.

If a small piece of soap the size of a few millimeters got into the stomach, there are likely to be no serious problems. It is enough to artificially induce vomiting, rinse the mouth with a weak solution of soda and take an absorbent.

But if you eat a large piece, the consequences can be frightening. The “taster” is very likely to have signs of food poisoning: nausea, headache, dizziness, difficulty breathing, chills, gastrointestinal disorders, and allergic reactions are not excluded.

In particularly complex cases, eaten soap can even cause nervous system disorders and liver damage.

In case of such symptoms, you need to provide first aid:

1. Induce vomiting by pressing on the root of the tongue.
2. Take polysorb, activated charcoal or other absorbent to reduce the activity of toxic substances.
3. Rinse the mouth with a solution of soda and urgently call an ambulance.

In no case should you drink water if the soap is still in the stomach. This can only worsen the condition of the victim and cause foaming.

With the right actions, all symptoms of poisoning will pass on the second day. If soap is consumed regularly, it can be life-threatening and lead to serious health problems.

The product increases the acidity level in the stomach, and prolonged use causes gastrointestinal and liver problems.

If you suddenly feel like eating soap, it could be due to vitamin and macronutrient deficiencies. Keep in mind that soap does not contain them. Also, the desire to taste the product may be associated with a mental disorder – picacism. This is the name of the need to eat inedible objects. In this case, you should consult a specialist.

Mnenje zdravnika

nutritionist, gastroenterologist, candidate of medical sciences, clinical pharmacologist

Soap irritates the mucous membranes of the mouth, throat, esophagus, stomach and intestines, which can lead to symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain and diarrhea.

Chemicals in soap, such as sodium lauryl sulfate, act as detergents and can form fats in the digestive tract, causing impaired absorption of nutrients.

The product can also upset the balance of healthy bacteria in the gut, triggering dysbiosis and other gastrointestinal problems.

Swallowing large amounts of soap causes more serious health problems such as electrolyte imbalances, dehydration, and even chemical burns to the gastrointestinal tract. In severe cases, hospitalization and treatment may be required.

Getting soap into the body can be dangerous, so it is better to keep it in places inaccessible to children and animals. And if you find out that one of your family members has eaten a piece of the product – urgently provide first aid or call a doctor.