Green Soap (Monograph)

Drug class: Detergents
VA class: DE400
CAS number: 8026-70-8

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com on Dec 23, 2024. Written by ASHP.

Introduction

Green soap is a topical detergent.

Uses for Green Soap

Green soap is used topically on the skin as a detergent for the cleansing of skin and hair, the preoperative preparation of operative sites, and the cleansing of surgical operators and assistants. However, germicidal agents (e.g., chlorhexidine gluconate, hexachlorophene, povidone-iodine) have generally replaced green soap for many uses. Green soap does not have germicidal activity; however, the alcohol present in green soap tincture provides an antiseptic action. Green soap is a good fat emulsifier that contains enough reserve alkalinity to make it quickly effective in the removal of sebaceous secretions from the skin. Green soap is soluble in and lathers with water and is not easily affected by hard water. Green soap provides prompt detergent activity without having a potent caustic effect on the skin. Although green soap generally is not irritating to the skin, the tincture is. Green soap has been particularly useful in removing greasy substances or preparations from the skin or hair. Green soap has also been used for its softening action on the keratin of epidermis to aid in removing scales and crusts of psoriasis and eczema.

Chemistry and Stability

Chemistry

Green soap is a topical detergent. Green soap is a potassium soap made by the saponification of suitable vegetable oils, excluding coconut oil and palm kernel oil, without the removal of glycerin. Green soap tincture contains about 65% w/v green soap, 20% v/v lavender oil, and 30% v/v alcohol. The tincture has a pH of 9.5–11.5. Each 1000 g of green soap contains 380 g of a suitable vegetable oil, 20 g of oleic acid, 91.7 g of potassium hydroxide (85% total alkali), 50 mL of glycerin, and sufficient purified water. Green soap occurs as a soft, unctuous, yellowish white to brownish or greenish yellow, transparent to translucent mass. Green soap prepared from green-colored oils such as green olive oil, or artificially colored, has the green color often associated with the soap; however, green soap is not necessarily green.

Stability

Green soap should be stored in well-closed containers. Green soap tincture should be stored in tight containers.

Preparations

Excipients in commercially available drug preparations may have clinically important effects in some individuals; consult specific product labeling for details.

Please refer to the ASHP Drug Shortages Resource Center for information on shortages of one or more of these preparations.

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