Black Soap is familiar to many people of African descent for its skin care benefits. It has been known to soothe skin irritations and diseases from simple rashes to contact dermatitis and psoriasis, as well as fading skin discolorations and evening out skin tone. People have used black soap for centuries for bathing and for reducing body odor, and as a shampoo for hair, not only to cleanse, but also to alleviate scalp itchiness and irritation. It was used to relieve oily skin and certain skin conditions, such as acne and eczema. Women used black soap for skin care during and after pregnancy to keep from getting dry skin, stretch marks and other skin conditions caused by hormonal changes.