[ ARC forum 2 ]
Written by Paul B. at 17 Feb 2003 22:37:00: Oils ain't oils!
As an answer to: strange? written by mike at 17 Feb 2003 15:10:42:
Sorry to use that title so often, but it says some things just so well! In this case, we are indeed talking about oils, the oils your skin and particularly your foreskin, makes, for the specific purpose of keeping itself healthy.
Jim is of course, absolutely correct on this one. You misunderstand the purpose of soap in the scheme of things. It has its purpose, but cleaning of the penis - or the vulva in women, is not part of that purpose. In fact, overuse of soap is probably the most common cause of skin conditions on any part of the body (including the face) because it removes the oils that are essential to keeping the skin soft and flexible.
One of my favourite "cameos" to explain this to people, is the vinyl clipboard or ring binder that students take to lectures (and still do, as currently sold laptops are so absurdly power-hungry due to "speed wars", that the batteries will not last a lecture!). When new, the plastic is most certainly flexible, but after a year or so of consistent use, it hardens, cracks and splits asunder, especially if it has been used in the sun. This seems to be almost a design feature to ensure the sales of further binders.
The reason for this is that on manufacture, the vinyl contains a "plasticiser" - actually an oil, that allows it to behave as you expect a "plastic" to do. The amount is however, finite, and as this leaches out (evaporates), the plastic's internal structure is no longer lubricated and becomes brittle. If this troubles you, a lubricant such as "Armor-all" can be used to replenish the plasticiser.
But the skin is exactly the same - it is self-lubricating, but only so far as you permit it to be. Soap is useful to remove the oil that causes dirt to adhere - when and where you get dirty - but unless you habitually let your penis hang into the oilpan at the workshop, it shouldn't get so dirty as to need this treatment, and water will suffice quite well.
And if you have odd problems elsewhere on your body, the same caution may be in order.
In particular reference to the foreskin, it is almost certain that most of the so-called "infections" of the foreskin which are reported to occur in infants and children, and thereby offered as arguments to support routine circumcision, are actually reactions to the inappropriate use of soap.It is well known that "bubble bath" is a common cause of vulval irritations in little girls - and probably many other skin conditions as well. The concept of actually soaking in a soap solution is absurdly stupid, and (amongst various other aberrant behaviours) discouraged by competent paediatricians.