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Long time readers of this site know that I am a huge fan of coffee drinking. Oh yes, those succulent cups of Java made from the dark roasted beans from Kenya and Columbia. Why can't the first cup last forever? :P As such, there is a new type of caffeinated soap that is being featured over at engadget today. I've seen this type of thing for sale at Gag-type of online retailers in the past, but they really seem to be catching on. Shower Shock is the latest and probably best polished I've seen in this category. Each bar contains approximately 12 servings/showers per 4 oz. bar with 200 milligrams of caffeine per serving. Tired of waking up and having to wait for your morning java to brew? Are you one of those groggy early morning types that just needs that extra "kick"? Introducing Shower Shock, the original and world's first caffeinated soap! It's the ultimate clean buzz, and yes, it really works!
I have to ask. Can caffiene be absorbed through the skin? If so, can this soap really work to get you going in the morning?
Well, obviously nicotine can be applied transdermally, so perhaps caffeine can be too! Or, maybe they're targeting those who gulp water during a shower, hoping that runoff will give them a bit of a kick!!
I'd be dubious about either having enough concentration/time to be effective, though. Maybe if you BELIEVE it'll help, it'll help...
Doug
This is a funny gimick.
Caffeine would be poorly absorbed transdermally in this setting.
There are several reasons why:
(1) Caffeine is relatively water soluble (lipid soluble drugs like nicotine are able to traverse the skin barrier)
(2) Skin has relatively poor blood supply and therefore poor absorption (especially first thing in the morning before a shower!)
(3) Caffeine itself causes vasoconstriction which would further limit skin absorption
(4) Contact time of soap with the skin would be limited and therefore limited concentration gradient
(5) Caffeine is a large molecule:
CH3
|
N
/ \
N----C C==O
|| || |
|| || |
CH C N--CH3
\ / \ /
N C
| ||
CH3 O
which is slow to traverse the dermis
Your best bet would be to eat it!
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